Wonderen der Natuur

A unique collection of drawings and gouaches now on PhotoCD. One of the centerpieces of the Artis Library is an amazing collection of about 180 pencil drawings, aquarelles and gouaches dating from the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century. Depicted are various subjects such as giants and dwarfs, parasitic twins and an acrobat without arms, but also for the time very exotic animals like a flying squirrel, a sunfish, and a beautiful bug. This collection is known under the title "Wonderen der Natuur" and as the "Album van Jan Velten", named after the collector of these pictures (who is presumed to have worked on it from 1687 till 1709). Velten was particularly inspired by the "Menagerie van Blauw Jan" which was located in the courtyard of his inn on the Kloveniersburgwal (between 1675 and 1784).