Artwork
Nashorn Rhinoceros
Nashorn Rhinoceros is an ink print by the Baroque artist Johann Elias Ridinger. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right of plate: J. El. Ridinger ad vivum del. fec. et excud A.V.; lower center in plate: Anno 1748 im Monath Maij und Junio / ist dieses Nashorn Rhinoceros... / ...abbildinge weit ubertroff.; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 359/41090 7657
About this work
Overview
Johann Elias Ridinger’s Nashorn Rhinoceros is an 1748 etching executed on laid paper. The print presents a single rhinoceros positioned centrally within a natural landscape, its head lowered and body turned toward the left. The surrounding scenery includes trees, rolling hills and a cloud‑filled sky, rendered in the same fine line work as the animal itself.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the rhinoceros, an exotic animal that would have been known to European audiences primarily through travel accounts and curiosities. By placing the creature in a tranquil, pastoral setting, Ridinger emphasizes its physical presence while integrating it into a familiar, bucolic environment, reflecting the 18th‑century fascination with the natural world.
Technique & Style
Ridinger employs the etching process to achieve intricate textures and tonal contrasts. Fine incised lines convey the rough skin of the rhinoceros, while broader washes create depth through light and shadow. The interplay of dark outlines against lighter areas of the paper enhances the three‑dimensional illusion of the animal and landscape.
History & Provenance
Ridinger, a German painter, engraver, and publisher, was renowned for his animal studies and hunting scenes, as well as designs for Meissen porcelain. This print exemplifies his skill in animal illustration and his contribution to the print market of the mid‑18th century, though specific ownership records for this particular impression are not documented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Elias Ridinger (16 February 1698 in Ulm – 10 April 1767 in Augsburg) was a German painter, engraver, draughtsman and publisher.
![Animals from an Ancient Wall Painting [Table II], by Italian 16th Century](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/italian-16th-century--animals-from-an-ancient-wall-painting-table-ii--fdc669e7ba8752d4-w320.webp)