Histoire Naturelle, Polypiers Pl. LXXXIX: Diderot 1780

Title: Histoire Naturelle, Polypiers Pl. LXXXIX Author: Denis Diderot Date: 1780 Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving Condition: Very Good + Inches: 9 x 13 1/2 [Image] Centimeters: 22.86 x 34.29 [Image] Product ID: 002163 Image of coral specimens by Denis Diderot. Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was a prominent French philosopher, writer, and editor during the Enlightenment era. Born in Langres, France, Diderot was the son of a cutler and was educated by Jesuits. He eventually moved to Paris, where he became a writer and editor for several prominent publications. Diderot's most famous work is the Encyclopédie, a massive compendium of knowledge that aimed to compile and disseminate all human knowledge. He co-edited the Encyclopédie with Jean Le Rond d'Alembert and oversaw the contributions of numerous writers and scholars. The Encyclopédie was highly controversial at the time, as it challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and the French monarchy. Diderot was also