McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Asiatic or Indian Civet
Common Genet
Genetta genetta
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 a Common Genet from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: the Iberian peninsula.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Asiatic or Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha)
Scientific name: Genetta genetta
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Viverra
Zibetha Maculata
Zibetha cauda longissima
anulata. magnitudo minor
quam precedente colore abido [albido]
nigro maculato sed facie collo &
dorso striato
Habitat in Morocco ut opinor
This was a present from the
Emperor of Morocco to K G. ye 2d.
I know not by what name he
was called.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Viverra
Zibetha Maculata
Zibetha with a very long
ringed tail. It is smaller
than the previous; white in colour
with black spots, but with a striped face, neck,
and back.
I believe it lives in Morocco.
This was a present from the
Emperor of Morocco to K G. [the] 2d.
I know not by what name he
was called.