Tamandua-Phatagin / Ameisen Fresser

Title

Tamandua-Phatagin / Ameisen Fresser

Description

Illustration of an anteater and a scaly specimen.

ca. 1830

Artist

Ridinger (1698-1767)

Johann Elias Ridinger ( 1698-1767 ) was a German animal painter, engraver, etcher and publisher. The son of a father with a talent for drawing, Ridinger was taught by Christoph Rasch (also Resch) in Ulm and Johann Falch (also Falk) in Augsburg and then continued his education in Regensburg, where his fondness for hunting led him to study game at the court of Count Metternich. After 1717, he undertook further studies at the Imperial City Academy of Georg Philipp Rugendas. He later founded his own art publishing house in Augsburg, where most of his works appeared. In 1759 he became the director of the Academy of Arts. His etched sheets, which amount to about 1600 pieces, depict animals in characteristic moments of life and scenic environments. Old prints of the sheets are rare.