Eland before 1650

Antonio Tempesta created this print of an Eland in the late 16th or early 17th century. The image offers a glimpse into the natural world as it was understood and documented in Europe at that time. Tempesta, working in Italy, likely never saw an eland firsthand. Instead, his depiction would have been based on descriptions and perhaps sketches from travelers or naturalists. In this context, the image becomes a product of the European fascination with, and attempts to classify, the wider world during the Age of Exploration. The print also reflects the role of institutions, such as royal collections and newly formed museums, in shaping knowledge about the natural world. These institutions commissioned artists to create images for scientific study, or simply to demonstrate the patron's wealth and knowledge. To truly understand this print, we would need to delve into the natural histories of the period, travel logs, and the inventories of collections. These sources will allow us to understand the cultural meanings that this image of an eland might have had for its original audience.