zoographerhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoographer_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezoographer, n.
Revised 2017

zoographernoun

  1. 1.
    1646–
    A person who produces descriptions of animals and their characteristics; a descriptive zoologist; (in later use) esp. a zoogeographer. Cf. zoography n. 1.
    1. 1646
      One kinde of Locust..by Zoographers called mantis.
      Sir T. Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica iv. i. 180
    2. 1688
      Zoographers observe, That the Camelion has a very uncommon structure of his visive Organs.
      R. Boyle, Disquisition Final Causes ii. 61
    3. 1711
      Others [sc. animals having only one horn] are mentioned by Zoographers.
      British Apollo 2–5 May
    4. 1735
      We learn from the Zoographers, that there are some Animals that live on the Land, some in the Water, and others, that..are equally suited either to Land or Water.
      T. Dallowe, translation of H. Boerhaave, Elements of Chemistry vol. I. ii. 41
    5. 1822
      Our Correspondent..is convinced, by the description which Zoographers give of the stork.
      Morning Post 12 December 3
    6. 1867
      An accomplished zoographer..to describe the animals.
      Lowell (Massachusetts) Daily Citizen 23 October
    7. 1905
      It [sc. a snake] was stated to have been collected by his brother at Manila, and to say that the case puzzled the zoographers is to put it mildly.
      Science 24 March 472/2
    8. 1946
      There is a growing tendency, on the part of many zoographers, to explain the distribution of all life everywhere on the assumption that migration took place.
      T. Barbour, Naturalist's Scrapbook 102
    9. 2010
      The simile between the bear and the poet presupposes the belief by ancient zoographers that bear fetuses were born shapeless.
      J. Farrell & M. C. J. Putnam, Vergil's Aeneid viii. 110
  2. 2.
    1656–
    A painter or artist who specializes in depictions of animals or living creatures. Also (chiefly with specific allusion to ancient Greek or Latin): a painter or artist in general. Cf. zoography n. 2. Now rare.
    1. 1656
      Zoographer..a Painter or one that draws the pictures of beasts.
      T. Blount, Glossographia
    2. 1736
      Zoographer, a Painter of living Creatures.
      Neve's City & Country Purchaser's & Builder's Dictionary (ed. 3)
    3. 1814
      This very clever artist and zoographer.
      Sporting Magazine vol. 44 66
    4. 1814
      The earlier writers on art,..who flourished before the age of Trajan and the Antonines, constantly entitle their books on zoographers, on zoography—this was their only usual denomination for painting, as if still life did not merit the name.
      W. Taylor in Monthly Magazine June 406/1
    5. 1855
      We are willing enough to have the Athenian people painted as the lion..but we object to his adopting the practice of the ancient zoographers, and appending the epigram, ‘This is a lion’.
      Dublin University Magazine April 490/2
    6. 1983
      A ‘zoographer’, that is to say one who excelled in drawing living beings.
      G. Heard Hamilton, Art & Archit. Russia (ed. 3) 134/2
    7. 1998
      Confirming the Platonic hierarchy of poiesis (the god, the demiurge, the zoographer—the painter).
      C. Fynsk, translation of P. Lacoue-Labarthe, Typography 87

zoographer, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoographer, n. was last modified in June 2025.