McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Domestic Fowl [male] & [female] Spanish
Minorca Rooster and Hen
Gallus gallus domesticus
Char.l Collins Fect. 1737
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm + 1 leaf
Charles Collins was an Irish painter, known for his portraits of animals and still-lifes. He achieved success in England painting exotic birds, game, dogs and dead game still-lifes. He was the painter for Robert Furber’s ‘Twelve Months of Fruit’ (1732). In 1736 he published in collaboration with John Lee a set of 12 large engravings, coloured by hand, of British birds in landscape and garden settings, entitled Icones avium cum nominibus anglicis. He then came to the attention of Taylor White, who engaged him to paint birds from his and others’ collections until 1743. Collins died in 1744, when he was described as ‘Bird Painter to the Royal Society.’
Drawing of a Minorca Rooster and Minorca Hen from 18th century specimens.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Domestic Fowl [male] & [female] Spanish (Gallus hispanicus ?) Char.l Collins Fect. 1737
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Gallus galinaceus Hispanica; The Dunghill Cock from Spain as I am told. Others said from Turkey.
Scientific name: Gallus gallus domesticus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Gallus Hispanicus
et Gallina
The
Spanish Cock and Hen
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Gallus Hispanicus
et Gallina
The
Spanish Cock and Hen