McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Herring Gull, immature
Larus argentatus
Char. Collins Fect. 1738;
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 an immature Herring Gull from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: North America, Europe, and Asia].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Char. Collins Fect. 1738;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: [Sketch of specimen's head] The Great grey Gull which we take to be the Cornish Wagel, called at Venice Martinazzo, at Amsterdam the Burgomaster of Groenland. An Larus albus Cinereus torque Cinereo Aldrov. W. 349
Scientific name: Larus argentatus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Larus.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Larus.