The Aquatilium animalium historiae was  published in Rome in 1554 and is populated with 81 engravings of aquatic creatures by Antoine Lafréry and Nicolas Beatrizet. Salviani’s work is the first to use the technique of copper engraving for depicting fishes. The silvery, finely hatched lines of copper engraving represents the physical nature of fishes far more successfully than woodcuts. Lafréry and Beatrizet’s illustrations were ahead of their time, and their skill in depicting fish was unmatched for over a century. The book not only describes the different Mediterranean fishes, molluscs, and cephalopods, but includes information on capture techniques, nutritional value, and preparation.

“Serpent Marina.” Aquatilium animalium historia, liber primus (Ippolito Salviani, 1554).

“Orbis. Pesci Palombo.” Aquatilium animalium historia, liber primus (Ippolito Salviani, 1554).