Pulgas, leones y otros monstruos de la imprenta ilustrada: de la Poética de Horacio al Tigre de William Blake

Abstract

Eighteenth-century printed zoology books represent images of animals anchored by texts which intend to be scientific but which continue to be impregnated by pre-rationalist discourse; in doing this, they originate a new version of the monsters which populated former discourse from classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and up to the early modern period. Analogously, the period’s literary aesthetics exalts moderation and containment, while prescribing the avoidance of excess and discord; the romantic reaction towards the end of the century attempts to reinstate the sense of wonder regarding animals.