[Portrait by Jules Boilly]

Paris, J. [L.] Boilly, 1821. Engraved, tinted broadsheet (36.3 x 27.3 cm). = A rarely-seen portrait of the French zoologist (principally entomologist) Pierre André Latreille (1762- 1833). "Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare beetle species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis. He published his first important work in 1796 (Précis des caractères génériques des insectes), and was eventually employed by the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. His foresighted work on arthropod systematics and taxonomy gained him respect and accolades, including being asked to write the volume on arthropods for George Cuvier's monumental work, Le Règne Animal, the only part not by Cuvier himself. Latreille was considered the foremost entomologist of his time, and was described by one of his pupils as 'the prince of entomologists'. Although Latreille named many species, his primary interest was in describing genera. He introduced the concept of the "type species", a species to which the name of a genus is firmly attached. Similarly, he favoured the method of naming families after one of the constituent genera, rather than some defining feature of the group, implicitly designating a type genus for the family" (Wikipedia). The artist, Julien-Léopold Boilly (1796-1874) was noted for his album of lithographs, Iconographie de l'Institut royal de France ou collection des portraits des Membres composant les quatre académies depuis 1814 jusqu'en 1825 (1820-1825). His portraits are much less stiff and formal than many by his contemporaries. Signed by the artist in the lower right margin of the portrait and dated 1821. The caption states the date of Latreille's birth and the year (1814) when he was elected as a member of the Institut. Uncut. Creasing to the top right corner; scattered, mostly marginal foxing, two short tears in left margin; otherwise very good.