Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon

Buffon, who was a French naturalist, became at the early age of 32, the warden of the Jardin du Roi in Paris, now known as the Jardin du Plantes.

After an extensive study of everything in and on the estate, his studies of the estate ended up with the encyclopaedical work, Histoire naturelle, published in 36 volumes between 1749 and 1788.

Buffon was not afraid of being controversial. This was the case in the Histoire naturelle where Buffon explained his thoughts about natural selection. It took another 100 years before Darwin proved the theory.

Likewise, Buffon inspired other great scientists, among others Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier, the latter often considered the founder of paleontology.

Buffon was a member of the Royal Society (London) and the French Academy.

We are delighted to offer a selection of the delicate natural illustrations brought to life from our own copy of the rare work Oeuvres complètes de Buffon  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

portrait of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon,
by François-Hubert Drouais.

 

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon

7 September 1707 – 16 April 1788