Saverio Manetti (1723-1785). Physician, botanist and natural scientist in Florence.

Natural History of Birds. Orig. coloured copper engravings by Saverio Manetti, Lorenzo Lorenzi and Violante Vanni, from "Storia naturale degli uccelli …", Florence 1767-77.
The 'Natural History of Birds', published in 5 folio volumes from 1767 until 1777, is one of the most remarkable works of natural history. The unique character of this work is given by the attitudes of the birds themselves, depicting the habits and mannerisms of human beings. The pictures are more magnificant caricatures than realistic views of birds.