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The Brazilian Parrot
Red-tailed Parrot
Amazona brasiliensis
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 Red-tailed Parrot from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: South Eastern Brazil.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: The Brazilian Parrot; Brasiliensis Ps. Branch. viridis L.S.N.
Scientific name: Amazona brasiliensis
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Brasiliensis
30 Ps. Brachyurus Viridis fronte rubra
Temporibus Caeruleis. Occipite flavo
Habitat in Brasilia. L.S.N. p.102
The Brasilian Parrot
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Brasiliensis
30 Ps. Brachyurus Viridis. [The green Brasilian parrot] with a red forehead,
blue temples; and a golden-yellow hindhead.
It lives in Brasil. L.S.N. p.102
The Brasilian Parrot