McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Common Cattle (Zebu variety), female
Bos taurus (indicus)
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 female Common Cattle of the Zebu variety from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: worldwide.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Bubalis Indicus 5B. cornibus aure brevioribus, dorso gibbo, juba nulla Linnaei Habitat in China. Bubalis parvis Indicus
Scientific name: Bos taurus (indicus)
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mam[m]alia Pecora Bos.
Bubalus Parvus Indicus
Habitat in China.
cornibus aure brevioribus. L.S.N. 72.
N:B. this is the 5th described by Lineus
The Smal Chinese Bufallo.
The Length 2 foot 10 inches height 2 ft 9
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mam[m]alia Pecora Bos.
Bubalus Parvus Indicus
It lives in China.
with horns that are shorter than the ears. L.S.N. 72.
N:B. this is the 5th described by Lineus
The Smal Chinese Bufallo.
The Length 2 foot 10 inches height 2 ft 9