Cephalopodes, Pl.10 – Vérany c.1850s

Cephalopodes, Pl. 10, dated to the 1850s, is a scientific illustration attributed to J.B. Vérany, depicting a single octopus rendered in detailed anatomical focus.

The composition isolates the subject to emphasize form, proportion, and movement, reflecting a period when illustration served as a primary tool for studying marine life. Color and simplicity work together to foreground structure rather than environment, reinforcing the image’s documentary purpose.