Manuscript note on front of drawing: Cha. Collins Fect. December 1740; Lory Capite Caeruleo The Blue-headed Lory;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The green and yellow Lory with a blue head
Scientific name: Trichoglossus ornatus
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.’
Published
Title based on 2019 species identification.
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Lory Capite caeruleo
Psittacus Brachyurus Rostro
flavo rubescente Pilo [pilleo] caeruleo, Vertice
et Genibus coccineis Iridibus flavis
a quibus linea Nigra protracta est
Pectore Coccineo Lineis Viridibus
Transversalibus Ventre viride. Cauda
et abdomine flavis alis et superiore
parte Viridibus altero sexu Viribus
flavo variegato.
The Blue Headed Lory
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Lory Capite caeruleo
Psittacus Brachyurus [The blue headed lory] with a reddish-golden-yellow beak, blue cap, scarlet crown
and cheeks; golden-yellow irises
with a black line drawn out from them,
a scarlet breast with green transverse lines,
and a green stomach; a golden-yellow tail
and abdomen, and wings that are green on top
but variegated green and
golden-yellow in the other sex.
The Blue Headed Lory
Drawing of a pair of Ornate Lorikeets from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Indonesia].