McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
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H3A 0C9
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosus
Petr. Paillou Fect. May 1744
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 pair of Rock Pitpits from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Europe].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Petr. Paillou Fect. May 1744
Scientific name: Anthus petrosus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Alauda
4 Campestris
4 A. rectricibus fuscis inferiori
medietate, exceptis inter mediis
duabus, albis, gula pectoreq[ue],
flavescente. L.S.N. p. 166
Habitat in Europa
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Alauda
4 Campestris
4 A. with flight feathers on the tail that are tawny on the lower half,
except two feathers in the middle which are white,
and a golden-yellow throat
and breast. L.S.N. p. 166
It lives in Europe.