McGill Libraries
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H3A 0C9
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 a pair of Corn Crakes from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, East Africa, and Southern Africa].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Land-rail (Crex crex) Cha. Collins Fect. Janry 1740-1;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Rail or Daker Hen Ortygosnetra Aldrov. W. 170
Scientific name: Crex crex
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Crex
Rallus alis rufo ferrugineis.
habitat in Europa L.S.N. p. 153
The Rail
No. 27.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Crex
Rallus with reddish-brown wings.
It lives in Europe. L.S.N. p. 153
The Rail
No. 27.