McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borin
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 Garden Warbler from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Beccafigo Will 216
Scientific name: Sylvia borin
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: The Becca figo or figeater.
This is certainly one of the Becca figo. perhaps
The 7 ficedula of Aldrov. Will. Orn. p. 216
Aldrov. saith his Country men the Bolognesse
call Scaterello.
The bill is pointed the 2 Mandibles of
equal lenght [sic]. the out side black the
inside blue. The leggs a Dark lead
colour. The Claws sharp & hooked
The cheeks under side of the neck
a pale Brown the belly white
The tail consists of 12 Feathers, a little
forked darker coloured then the Back
& upper part of the Body which is
of a Mouse Colour darker then the
Breast the Outside of the Wing feathers are
the same colour but the inside somewhat
Darker. its size near that of a linnet.