McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Jaguar
Leopard
Panthera pardus
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 Leopard from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Africa and Asia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Jaguar (Felisonca)
Manuscript note on back of drawing: III Fora, Folii 4 onca &c femina
Scientific name: Panthera pardus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Onca Femina
Faemina Precedentis
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Onca Femina
The female of the previous.