In search of the rococofish

January 4, 2011 7:03 AM

In 1719, Louis Renard published Poissons, écrevisses et crabes, de diverses couleurs et figures extraordinaires, que l'on trouve autour des isles Moluques, et sur les côtes des terres australes. The book documented the newly discovered marine life of the East Indies in images of astonishing beauty, but dubious accuracy.
posted by Horace Rumpole (7 comments total)

Pfft to this "dubious accuracy". It is merely that mermaids and smiley-faced-triggerfish have grown smarter, and are no longer caught by brutes with hooks and sketchbooks..

(Love it, they are indeed beautful. Thanks!)
posted by Ahab at 7:48 AM on January 4, 2011

The new year has comer an yet, the flow of awesome posts has not ebbed! Thoroughly enjoyed the links here, thanks for sharing. What a tale, down from the self promotion as "Agent de Sa Majesté Britannique", to apparently scientific drawings of mermaids. Fantastic.
posted by the cydonian at 8:30 AM on January 4, 2011

_{"come and yet" The Cupertino effect strikes again!}
posted by the cydonian at 8:31 AM on January 4, 2011

Bonus points for being the first to spot the tiny yellow submarine sailing through one of the pictures.
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:01 AM on January 4, 2011

Very nice.
posted by OmieWise at 9:29 AM on January 4, 2011

"Fish, crayfish and crabs, various colors and extraordinary figures, which are found around islands of Moluccas and the coasts of southern lands."
posted by blue_beetle at 9:59 AM on January 4, 2011

This reminds me of Gould's Book of Fish, a strange novel relating to a rare book of Tasmanian fish drawings of perhaps dubious accuracy.
posted by sepviva at 8:33 PM on January 4, 2011