Artwork
The Creation of Animals
The Creation of Animals is an ink print by the Baroque artist William Faithorne. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
William Faithorne’s 1673 engraving, titled *Historia Naturæ*, presents a densely populated tableau of creation. Rendered entirely in black‑and‑white line work, the image features a bearded, robed figure gesturing toward a bustling ground scene beneath a celestial canopy of stars, a comet, and a sun bearing a human face.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates an allegorical account of nature’s genesis: the central figure appears to direct the emergence of humans, animals, and activity below, while the sky’s astronomical elements suggest divine oversight. The inclusion of shepherds, riders, and a lizard among the myriad details emphasizes the diversity of life forms and human endeavors within a single moment of creation.
Technique & Style
Faithorne employed the traditional copper‑plate engraving method, incising fine lines with a burin to achieve intricate textures and tonal variation.
Faithorne employed the traditional copper‑plate engraving method, incising fine lines with a burin to achieve intricate textures and tonal variation. The stark contrast between dense hatching in the foreground and lighter stippling in the heavens creates depth, while the meticulous rendering of tiny figures and architectural fragments demonstrates the artist’s command of line to convey narrative complexity without colour.
History & Provenance
Created in the late seventeenth century, the print reflects the period’s fascination with natural philosophy and biblical themes. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been catalogued among Faithorne’s oeuvre of illustrative prints, and it continues to be cited in studies of early modern engraving practices and visual interpretations of creation narratives.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Faithorne (1616–1691) was a British artist, born in Greater London.
