McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Great Skua
Great Skua
Stercorarius skua
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 Great Skua from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Northern Europe, Western Europe, North Africa, the Northeastern coast of North America, and Australia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) The Skua
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Cataracta Will.348
Scientific name: Stercorarius skua
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Larus
Catarractes
Skua
Brunick p. 33.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Larus
Catarractes
Skua
Brunick p. 33.