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Argali
Argalis
Ovis ammon
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm + 1 leaf
Peter Paillou was born in London into a Huguenot family and was recognised in his own time as an eminent ‘bird painter’. In 1744 he began to paint for Taylor White and worked for him for almost thirty years, painting chiefly birds and mammals. He painted as well for Robert More, Joseph Banks, and for the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant. Many of his paintings of birds were used as the basis for book illustrations, often engraved by his colleague and fellow Huguenot, Peter Mazell. Paillou was elected to the Society of Artists and in 1763 he exhibited ‘A Piece of Birds, in Watercolours; the Hen of the Wood and Cock of the Red Game’. In 1778, to considerable approval, he also showed a picture of ‘A Horned Owl from Peru’, completely made from feathers.
Drawing of an Argalis from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe and Central Asia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Argali (Ovis ammon)
Scientific name: Ovis ammon
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Pecora Capra
13 Ammon.
13 C. Cornibus arcuatis semicirculare
subtus planiusculis; palearibus latis
pilosis, gula imberbi.
Rupi-capra cornibus arietis. Act.
Petio p. 1756 v. 4. p 388. t. 8. f. 2. 3.
Capra Ammon. Gmel. 368:
Tregolaphus & Musimon Gesn. quad. 155
Bell. it. 57.
Habitat in Siberia. Gmelin.
Corpus staturae & magnitudinis Arietis
pilis fulvis longioribus albida sunt
cornua, nigra sunt cauda, nares
collum & thorax barbatu. Briss. 31.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Pecora Capra
13 Ammon.
13 C. with curved semi-circular horns
that are somewhat flat underneath; wide hairy
dewlaps, and a beardless throat.
Rupi-capra with the horns of a ram. Act.
Petio p. 1756 v. 4. p 388. t. 8. f. 2. 3.
Capra Ammon. Gmel. 368:
Tregolaphus & Musimon Gesn. quad. 155
Bell. it. 57.
It lives in Siberia. Gmelin.
It has the stature and size of a ram,
with rather long reddish-yellow hair; the horns are white,
the tail, nostrils, and neck are black,
and the chest is bearded. Briss. 31.