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Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807
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Gwillim Collection

  • CA RBD Gwillim
  • Collection
  • [between 1801 and 1807]

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.

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Birds

The series consists of 121 watercolour paintings of birds, created by Elizabeth Gwillim while she was living in Chennai, India (then Madras). The birds were painted from life rather than from the skins or stuffed specimens used by many artists of her day. Many paintings feature their avian subjects within a full landscape. Some paintings contain inscriptions with species identifications and, occasionally, additional observations about the birds.

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Framed painting of small raptor perched on rock with some foliage in a partial background, colour much paler than normal. Inscription on painting reads: "Kestrel [male glyph] (Tinnunculus aluadarius)."

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Framed portrait of a raptor in full landscape. Raptor is red with white head, foreground is full of foliage, three worshipful figures at right in full background.

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Purple heron (Ardea purpurea)

Mounted painting of a small heron with a fish in its bill (unique in the collection), probably a catfish, with partial background featuring a small body of water or pond, rocks, and foliage. Inscriptions below the painting read: "? Eastern Purple Heron juv. (Ardea manillensis)," and in the lower right corner: "Ardea."

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)

Two mounted drawings of a vulture affixed to a single page. Upper image is a small painting of the bird, lower is a life-sized bust portrait of the bird with a rough sketch of the whole bird in upper right corner. The lower painting also includes some illegible pencil notes in the bottom left, probably relating to the measurements of the bird. Inscription beneath the lower painting reads: "Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus)."

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

Mounted painting with full depiction of a pale-colored buzzard, with partial background of rocks and plants. Inscriptions below the painting read: "Smaller White Scavenger Vulture (Neophron ginginianus)" at bottom centre, and "Neophron ginginianus" in lower left corner.

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

Short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

Mounted painting of brown and white raptor perched on small rock platform, with sparse branches and foliage in partial background. Inscription below the painting reads: "Circaetus gallicus."

Gwillim, Elizabeth, 1763-1807

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