THE TENCH
“Cyprinus Tinca/Der Schley/La Tanche/The Tench” (plate 14), copper engraving made by Gabriel Bodenehr after the drawing of Krüger jr, for Markus Elieser Bloch’s “Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische” published in Berlin between 1782 and 1795. With original hand colouring. Size: 19 x 38 cm.
Bloch devoted a significant part of his life to his “Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische,” which is considered to have laid the foundations of the science of ichthyology. The publication was well-received and widely subscribed, leading to five editions in German and French. Bloch made little or no alteration in the systematic arrangement established by Peter Artedi and Carl Linnaeus, although he was inclined to modify the classification based on the structure of the gills. He found it necessary to add 19 new genera and described 276 species previously unknown to science, many of which were found in remote ocean regions and were popular for their bright colors or unique shapes.
The tench is a freshwater fish species in the carp family Cyprinidae. It is a stout-bodied fish with a greenish-brown coloration and a dark, olive-green back. Tench have a thick, mucus-coated skin and a pair of small barbels near their mouth. They are bottom-dwelling fish and are often found in still or slow-moving waters with plenty of vegetation. Today tench are popular among anglers for their fighting ability and are also used as a food fish in some regions.
Bloch is considered the most important ichthyologist of the 18th century.
Price: Euro 350,-
