McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
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 Cheetah from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Africa.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Hunting Tiger I suppose from Bengal size life Leopard tamed and used to hunt with
Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Venator
Felis Color Palide-fuscus maculis
nigris. auribus rotundis
magnitudo minor quam leopardus
Habitat in India orientale
apud Benghall
The Hunting Tiger
This beast is kept tame
and used by Hunters
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Venator
Felis it is a pale-tawny color with
black spots, and rounded ears;
it is smaller than the leopard.
It lives in Eastern India
near Benghall.
The Hunting Tiger
This beast is kept tame
and used by Hunters.