Jean-Gabriel Prêtre was a Swiss French natural history painter who illustrated birds, mammals and reptiles in many books. Several species of animal were named after him, including a species of worm lizard, Amphisbaena pretrei, named in his honour. He worked as a natural history illustrator, first for Empress Josephine’s zoo, and then for the Natural History Museum in Paris.
Prêtre was born in Geneva. His father Jean-Louis Prêtre married Judith Renauld on 28 December 1767 in the church of Saint Germain. From their marriage the children Pernette Marguerite, Jean-Gabriel and Marie were born.
