Phoenix - Friedrich Justin Bertuch, 1806. (Mythology Wall Art)
This vintage art print shows a phoenix standing in a simple landscape. The bird has a long neck, strong beak and full tail, drawn with clear lines and soft color on a warm parchment style background. Small flames and rocks at its feet hint at the moment of burning and renewal without turning the scene into a violent picture. It works well in a study, reading corner or bedroom where you want something mythical and symbolic that still feels calm on the wall.
About this art print
This print is based on a phoenix illustration by Friedrich Justin Bertuch, a German publisher best known for his Bilderbuch für Kinder, a large picture book for children printed in twelve volumes between about 1790 and 1830. The phoenix appears there among other “mythical creatures”, shown in the same clear, careful style as his griffin, unicorn and dragon.
Bertuch draws the phoenix in a simple side view, so you can follow the curve of the neck, body and tail without any effort. The feathers and the small flame at its feet are shaded just enough to suggest heat and texture, but the scene never feels crowded. The background is kept very light, with only a hint of ground and sky, which keeps your eye on the bird itself. It has the same steady, measured look as his griffin, so the phoenix feels more like a clear picture from a natural history book than a noisy scene of fire and chaos.
Craft & finish
This vintage phoenix art print is made on hand processed paper, highlighted with subtle gold and sealed with beeswax so it feels close to real parchment when you hold it. The surface catches the light softly on the texture of the paper, but colors can look a little different from screen to screen.
You can find more pieces like this in our Vintage Art Prints collection.
Phoenix (Friedrich Justin Bertuch, 1806.) - Vintage Art Print
In case your print creases during the travel, as it usually does travel for some time, you can safely warm it up with a hair-dryer, and the wax will melt back right into it. You can also use a lighter, which is a much faster method, but be careful to keep the flame either above the paper or parallel to it (which means holding the paper vertically) so it doesn't smudge or even catch fire. The chance of the print actually creasing is very small, as they are rolled in bubble-wrap and shipped in a cardboard box. Also, be sure to keep the print out of the direct sunlight, as it can melt or fade.
Visit the link below to see more about how our replicas are made, how to display them, and repair the damage:
https://www.artifex-replicas.com/post/about-our-parchment-replicas
