Indian & African Rhinoceros Antique, 1790 Print By Pierre Berthault
A 1790 print of the Great Indian Rhinoceros and the African Rhinoceros engraved by Berthault. The original artwork was made by Frenchman, Pierre-Gabriel Berthault. Two species of Rhinoceroses are shown in this engraving.
The one on the top is the single horn Great Indian Rhino and the one on the bottom is the two horned African Rhino. During the 1700s the Indian Rhino was widespread in Northern and Northeast India. However, due to poaching and decreasing forest area these are now found in pockets of Assam and Nepal. The African two-horned species were once widespread and they ranged up to Ethiopia in the 1700s.
They too declined in numbers for the same reason as the Indian rhino because of poaching and ever-declining forest area. Today they are found only in certain pockets of African forests. From the early colonial era, many European artists and engravers made a beeline to India and Africa to take back impressions of the exotic wildlife sights they beheld. Since there were were ever hungery people back home eagerly lapping up the sights of exotic wildlife animals. Just like it was of African wildlife sights, India’s wildlife too astonished the Europeans no end.
See posts 1808 Indian Elephant Antique Print From Buffon., and 1808 The Baby Elephant Antique Print From Buffon.
Did you know- the single Rhino has armor-plating skin the two-horn Rhino has smooth skin.
From the collection- Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Laxmi” Oleograph., Khadakwasla Lake Pune In British India Era – Old Photo 1870., Vintage Postcard Ode To Bombay Soldier’s Lover., Map of Salsette Bombay 1893
