McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm
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 Red-necked Grebe from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: North America, Europe, and Asia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Scientific name: Podiceps grisegena
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Colymbus
Urinator
9 Colymbus pedibus lobatis,
Capite laevi, macula alarum alba.
Colymbus major lacus Lemni. Edw. av. t 360
Habitat in Europa Australi.
Corpus supra nigrum, subtus Album
macula alarum lata alba.
Linea nigra in occulos & rostrum.
Palpebra inferior lutea.
N.B. in my Bird the bottom of the neck
& Part of the Breast are ferrugineous.
41.
Colymbus
Major.
Will. orn. p. 339
The
Greater Loon
No.
41
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Colymbus
Urinator
9 Colymbus with lobate feet,
a smooth head, and a white patch on the wings.
Colymbus major lacus Lemni. Edw. av. t 360
It lives in southern Europe.
The body is black on top, and white underneath,
with a broad white patch on the wings.
There is a black line through the eyes and beak.
The lower eyelashes are yellow.
N.B. in my Bird the bottom of the neck
& Part of the Breast are ferrugineous.
41.
Colymbus
Major.
Will. orn. p. 339
The
Greater Loon
No.
41