McGill Library
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H3A 0C9
Lapwing
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
C. Collins Fect. 1736;
Item
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 Northern Lapwings from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the East coast of North America].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) C. Collins Fect. 1736;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Lapwing or Bastard Plover Capella sive Vanellus p. 307 W.
Scientific name: Vanellus vanellus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Vanellus
Tringa pedibus rubris, crista dependente
pectore nigro.
Habitat in Europa et Africa.
The Lapwing
No. 14
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Vanellus
Tringa with red feet, a hanging crest
and a black breast.
It lives in Europe and Africa.
The Lapwing
No. 14