McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Lion [male] Africa
Lion, male
Panthera leo
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 male Lion from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Africa.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Lion [male] Africa (Felis leo)
Manuscript note on back of drawing: (3) Leo Maximus jubatus corpora flavescente ex Regno Tripoli, from the Collection of the Duke of Cumberland The lion from Barbari from the Colln of the D. Of Cumberland
Scientific name: Panthera leo
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Fera[e] Felis
Leo
Flavus
Leo. Maximus Jubatus.
Color Flavus juba
caudaq[ue] nigrascente [nigrescente]
Habitat in Africa Tripoly
The yellow or Cream Colourd
Lyon
This is the Largest Lyon I have
seen. it was in the Menagerie
of the late Duke of Cumberland
but since in the Tower of London
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Fera[e] Felis
Leo
Flavus [The golden-yellow lion]
Leo. It is very large and has a mane.
The mane is golden-yellow,
and the tail is black.
It lives in African Tripoli.
The yellow or Cream Colour[e]d
Lyon
This is the Largest Lyon I have
seen. it was in the Menagerie
of the late Duke of Cumberland
but since in the Tower of London