Bertuch "Nais Serpentina" Late 18th C Hand-colored Copper Engraving bagatelle The colors in images are

The colors in images are very close to accurate--really a gorgeous palette and sophisticated print

the patterns certainly feel Northern European

) Just over 2" tall x 1 1/4" wide x 1/2" deep

which must have followed this one in a sketchbook

Bertuch "Nais Serpentina" Late 18th C Hand-colored Copper Engraving bagatelle The colors in images areThis c. 1798 engraving comes from a volume published by Friedrich Justin Bertuch, (1747 1822) famous German publisher, patron of the arts and all around super interesting character worth a quick (or long!) search. Between 1790 and 1830 Betruch printed the "Bilderbuch fr Kinder", appearing in 12 volumes, and including color engravings of all manner of living things, and some mythic ones, too! These I think are renderings of pre or just hatched snakes