The collection contains 164 botanical and zoological paintings created chiefly by Elizabeth Gwillim as well as possibly by her sister Mary Symonds while living in Chennai, India (then Madras). The collection includes 121 watercolours of birds with inscriptions, 31 watercolours of fish, and twelve of flowers, drawn from life rather than specimens. The paintings reflect the sisters' time in Madras during which, as artists and letter writers, they created a substantial visual record of the landscape and inhabitants of Madras and environs. The paintings also reflect Gwillim's scientific pursuits, including her study of botany.
Very lightly sketched and painted flower, some leaves painted light grey or green, others just outlined in pencil. Stem surrounded with curling, loose leaves. Inscription at the bottom centre of the page reads, "Glaucium luteum." Another at the lower left of the drawing reads, "Chelidonium Glaucium Yellow-horned poppy."
Two smaller paintings mounted on one sheet. The upper painting shows two small yellow flowers, with no stems or leaves, lightly outlined. The lower painting shows a stem with bunch of small yellow flowers drooping down with very light green leaves. Inscription beneath the lower painting reads, "Cowslip primula veris."
Painting of three ranunculus flowers: the top, yellow with red on the edges of the petals, the flower to the right, dark red with grey centre, and the flower on the left, bright yellow with small red dots on the tips of each petal. Each flower has many petals, very densely arranged. No stems, no background. Inscription below the painting reads, "Ranunculus asiaticus."
Painting of a stemless bundle of small mauve flowers with small yellow centres. Two leftmost flowers are washed out, lighter than the others. Inscription below the painting reads, "Chironia."
Series consists of 12 watercolour paintings of flowers by Elizabeth Gwillim, created while Gwillim was living in Chennai, India (then Madras). The paintings are preceded by pages of brief notes by Casey A. Wood. The flowers are identified by small caption titles written in pencil on each painting.
The series consists of 31 watercolour paintings of fish, created while Elizabeth Gwillim and Mary Symonds were living in Madras, India (modern-day Chennai). The paintings are preceded by an introductory page of notes by Casey A. Wood. The paintings were originally attributed to Gwillim by Wood, largely on the basis of handwriting, but have more recently been tentatively attributed to Mary Symonds approximately around the year 1805 on the basis of information found in the sisters' correspondence. The fishes depicted are identified by a handwritten caption in the margin of each painting. Approximately one third of the paintings also feature an additional caption written in an Urdu script. These paintings may be copies of Symonds' originals created by a local artist in India. Item 30 (Crocodilus palustris) also contains additional manuscript notes.
Painting of two flowers, white fading to pink at the tips, growing from a brown stem with a few small yellowish buds. Inscription at bottom centre reads, "Amaryllis belladonna."
