Anonymous European From The Mid-19th Century

Anonymous European, mid-19th century. This duel between squirrels evokes the fascinated gaze of a spectator of Victorian taxidermy, who sought to capture in images the impression made on him by these singular dioramas. Most likely, his inspiration came from the famous scenes created by Walter Potter, as well as from the influential anthropomorphic taxidermy exhibit presented at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. The enthusiasm it generated was such that an illustrated book of engravings reproducing these scenes was published: Hermann Ploucquet's Comic Creatures. This work exerted a significant influence on many taxidermists of the time. The event was a huge public success. Even Queen Victoria was amused by these unusual depictions of taxidermied animals adopting humanized poses, a concept that the German taxidermist Hermann Ploucquet took to an extraordinary level. Ploucquet became one of the most remarkable figures of his time, leaving a profound mark on other artists of the genre, including Walter Potter himself, who, at only sixteen, received news of this exhibition and went on to develop works that we now consider emblematic. In this context, the squirrel duel we are contemplating finds its direct origin in one of these compositions: Ploucquet's famous "Duel of Dormice," reinterpreted here in a new form, while retaining its theatrical spirit and distinctive sense of humor. This painting, perhaps inspired by a diorama by Walter Potter, is an extraordinary piece, reflecting a taste and aesthetic closely linked to 19th-century society.