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 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.
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.
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.
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."
Mounted painting with a life-sized bust (head, neck, shoulders) study of a vulture on otherwise blank page. Inscription below the painting reads: "Black, King, or Pondicherry Vulture (Otogyps calvus)."
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.
Framed painting of a bird with white body, black neck, head, and legs, standing on rock by water. Full and close background featuring plants with hanging, full pods.
Framed painting of a tall stork with white underbelly, black back, and dark, iridescent neck and head. Full background with perspective, featuring water on the left and rocks, hill, and tree on the right.
Framed painting of a tall eagle with brown back and speckled white belly, perched on flat rock with detailed plant at the right bearing red fruit (ivy gourd), with a full landscape background.