Arnout Vosmaer (1720 - 1799)

Arnout Vosmaer

Arnout Vosmaer was a Dutch naturalist and natural history collector.

From 1756 to 1795, Vosmaer was director, curator and researcher of the natural history collection begun by Princess Anne, wife of William IV, and continued by their son, William V. In 1752, he acquired the famous Albert Seb collection, which was later transferred to the cabinet of William V.

Arnaut Vosmaer produced a series of 34 booklets describing the animals in the prince's menagerie, which were published between 1766 and 1805 in Dutch and French. Many of the watercolor illustrations were done by the painter Aert Schouman (1710-1792) and engraved by the etching artist and book designer Simon Fokke (1712-1784).