McGill Library
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Gannet ad.
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanus
Cha. Collins Fect. 1739;
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 Northern Gannet from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic sea, and and the North Sea coasts].
Tears along left edge.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Gannet ad. (Sula bassana) Cha. Collins Fect. 1739;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: [Watercolor of specimen] The Soland Goose Anser Basanus W. p 238
Scientific name: Morus bassanus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Pelecanus
Bassanus.
5 Pelecanus. cauda cuneformi [cuneiformi], rostro
serrato, remigibus primoribus nigris.
L.S.N. p. 133.
Habitat in Scotia, America
The
Soland Goose
No 26.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Pelecanus
Bassanus.
5 Pelecanus. with a wedge-shaped tail,
serrated beak, and black primary wing feathers.
L.S.N. p. 133.
It lives in Scotland, and America.
The
Soland Goose
No 26.