'The Gathering of Manna', 1540- 1555
by Francesco Bacchiacca (1494-1557)
and detail:
by Francesco Bacchiacca (1494-1557)
and detail:
link
The Medici giraffe was a giraffe presented to
Lorenzo de Medici in 1486 possibly by al-Ashraf Qaitbay,
the Burji Mamluke sultan of Egypt, in an attempt to
win the support of the Medici. It caused a great stir on
its arrival in Florence: although the Medici maintained a
large menagerie, and had previously featured a giant
mannequin of a giraffe in the animal entertainments
they provided to the citizenry, this was the first time a
living example had been seen in the city. It was also
reputedly the first living giraffe to be seen in Italy since
the days of Ancient Rome. It did not survive for long.
link
The Adoration of the Magi, 1485-1490
by Domenico Ghirlandaio
Painted just after the arrival of the Medici giraffe
and detail:
Jacques-Laurent Agasse (1767-1849):
'The Nubian Giraffe', 1827
link
'The Nubian Giraffe', by Jacques-Laurent Agasse (ca. 1827),
depicts one of the three giraffes sent to Europe by Mehmet Ali Pasha.
This one was received by George IV in London. The gentleman
shown in the top hat is Edward Cross, operator of the menagerie
at Exeter Exchange and then Royal Surrey Gardens. Also shown
are the giraffe's Egyptian attendants, and, in the background,
the Egyptian cows that supplied the young giraffe with milk.
She (and the giraffe Zarafa below) was one of the first three
giraffes to be seen in Europe or over three centuries, since the
Medici giraffe was sent to Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence in 1486
Study of the Giraffe Given to Charles X by the
Viceroy of Egypt, 1827 by Nicolas Hüet,
the Younger (1770–1828)
This giraffe was called Zarafa
As a specialist in depicting animals, Nicolas Hüet, the son of
Jean-Baptiste, was the official painter for the Musée d’Histoire
Naturelle de la Ménagerie, Paris. He must have been one of
the first to paint the celebrated giraffe, the 'belle enfant des
tropiques', the first ever to be seen in France. The viceroy of
Egypt Mehmet Ali Pasha presented the giraffe to Charles X
in 1827, who installed it at the Jardin des Plantes, where it
was seen by over 600,000 visitors in the first six months
alone. Hüet’s exquisitely worked portrait shows the giraffe
in its new home with one of the three pashas who
came with it in attendance
link, via
Zarafa comes to France
link
The giraffes started a 'giraffemania':
á la giraffe furniture, wallpaper, porcelain,
and even soap were decorated with a
giraffe pattern
link
See and read (in French) more here & here
Charles X led by the clergy
link
The Giraffe Presented to the King from
the Pasha of Egypt by French School.
Artist unknown
link
'The Nubian Giraffe', 1827
link
'The Nubian Giraffe', by Jacques-Laurent Agasse (ca. 1827),
depicts one of the three giraffes sent to Europe by Mehmet Ali Pasha.
This one was received by George IV in London. The gentleman
shown in the top hat is Edward Cross, operator of the menagerie
at Exeter Exchange and then Royal Surrey Gardens. Also shown
are the giraffe's Egyptian attendants, and, in the background,
the Egyptian cows that supplied the young giraffe with milk.
She (and the giraffe Zarafa below) was one of the first three
giraffes to be seen in Europe or over three centuries, since the
Medici giraffe was sent to Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence in 1486
Study of the Giraffe Given to Charles X by the
Viceroy of Egypt, 1827 by Nicolas Hüet,
the Younger (1770–1828)
This giraffe was called Zarafa
As a specialist in depicting animals, Nicolas Hüet, the son of
Jean-Baptiste, was the official painter for the Musée d’Histoire
Naturelle de la Ménagerie, Paris. He must have been one of
the first to paint the celebrated giraffe, the 'belle enfant des
tropiques', the first ever to be seen in France. The viceroy of
Egypt Mehmet Ali Pasha presented the giraffe to Charles X
in 1827, who installed it at the Jardin des Plantes, where it
was seen by over 600,000 visitors in the first six months
alone. Hüet’s exquisitely worked portrait shows the giraffe
in its new home with one of the three pashas who
came with it in attendance
link, via
Zarafa comes to France
link
The giraffes started a 'giraffemania':á la giraffe furniture, wallpaper, porcelain,
and even soap were decorated with a
giraffe pattern
link
See and read (in French) more here & here
Charles X led by the clergy
link
The Giraffe Presented to the King from
the Pasha of Egypt by French School.
Artist unknown
link
The giraffes with the Arab keepers who brought them
over to Zoological Gardens, Regents Park in 1836. The
men and the giraffes are all named beneath the drawing:
The giraffes are called Zaida, Marbrouck, Selim and Guib
Allah. Left to right, the Arab keepers are called Cabas,
Omar, Abdalah and M. Thibaut
link
Rare brown transfer printed plate.
Ridgway giraffe, ca. 1836
Please, go here and read about
Staffordshire Potteries and giraffes
over to Zoological Gardens, Regents Park in 1836. The
men and the giraffes are all named beneath the drawing:
The giraffes are called Zaida, Marbrouck, Selim and Guib
Allah. Left to right, the Arab keepers are called Cabas,
Omar, Abdalah and M. Thibaut
link
Rare brown transfer printed plate.
Ridgway giraffe, ca. 1836
Please, go here and read about
Staffordshire Potteries and giraffes
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