Jacob Hübner

Jacob Hübner ( born June 20, 1761 Augsburg, † September 13, 1826 ibid, also: Jacob Hübner ) was a German entomologist of international standing.

Life

After a two year visit to the Drawing School St. Anna Jacob Hübner attended from 1778 to 1780 a lesson in etching and shape stinging. This training was an important prerequisite for his job as a draftsman in Augsburg calico pattern. At the same time it was an essential basis for his scientific work.

Huebner's first public work was published in 1785 with engravings hitherto largely unknown butterflies. This work already demonstrated the good types and literary knowledge Huebner. Important impulses for the purpose of his scientific work was Hübner during a stay in Vienna from August 1788 to the spring of 1789. Here he meets Ignaz Schiffermueller ( 1727-1806 ), with whom he remained all his life in a friendly connection. Professional Huebner worked as a pattern designer in the textile industry. At the same time he created his lepidopterologisches work that had already made ​​him famous during his lifetime in professional circles. His immense work was mainly in part-time work. Most of his publications he drove self-published. Huebner estate acquired in 1935 the Royal Entomological Society of London, London.

Works (selection)

Jacob Hübner importance

Huebner's biography is remarkable in many perspectives. The son of a former " Habnits " ( = laborer ) he worked his way up to a nationally known naturalist. In his home town of Augsburg, although there were large butterfly collections and a significant scientific private library, he is the first recognized technical expert in his field of research. Huebner's preeminence as an illustrator and scientists has been recognized by his contemporaries. In 1952 copper plates Hübner forms " in most faithful imitation of nature " total 3598 species of butterflies from, including 1500 for the first time. The history of European Butterflies contains 500 plates with 734 species, the collection of European butterflies 789 plates with 2627 species, and the collection of exotic butterflies 663 plates with 971 species. For Huebner Illustrations writes 1978 Th.A. welfare: " ... his own engraved and painted by him copper plates are, as a tribute to one type, almost perfect in precision and artistic unity. " In addition Hübner developed a basis for a classification of butterflies which to this day has significance in its basic features. Jacob Hübner is next to Christian Friedrich Freyer and the illustrators of the work conversations from the natural history of Gottlieb Tobias Wilhelm the last important representative of the Augsburg copperplate engraving industry.