McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Rock Dove, Rock Pigeon. (English) Carrier Pigeon
Columba livia
Cha. Collins Fect. April 1741;
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 an English Carrier Pigeon--also known as a Rock Dove or a Rock Pigeon--from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: worldwide].
Small stain near top edge.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Cha. Collins Fect. April 1741;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The carrier Pigeon W. 181
Scientific name: Columba livia
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Tabellaria
Columba cera lata verrucosa,
palpebris nudis. L.N.S. [sic] 163
The
Carier
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Tabellaria
Columba with a broad warty cere
and bare eyes. L.N.S. [sic] 163
The
Car[r]ier