McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Eurasian Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm
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 pair of Eurasian Blackcaps from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Scientific name: Sylvia atricapilla
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: The Black-cap Will. 226.
Atricapilla seu ficedula, Aldrov.
This is a very small bird, not weighing
above half an ounce, in length 6 inches
its Breadth from the points of the wings
stretchd is 9 inches.
The Head of the female is brown.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: The Black-cap Will. 226.
Atricapilla or ficedula, Aldrov.
This is a very small bird, not weighing
above half an ounce, in length 6 inches
its Breadth from the points of the wings
stretch[e]d is 9 inches.
The Head of the female is brown.