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The Parrot of Borneo
Red Lory
Eos bornea
Cha. Collins Fect. March 1742-3
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 a pair of Red Lories from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Indonesia].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: The Parrot of Borneo Cha. Collins Fect. March 1742-3;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Borneus Ps. Macrorisus Ruber L.S.N. p. 97; The Parrot of Borneo
Scientific name: Eos bornea
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Borneus
P. macrourus ruber, remigibus rectricibus
-que apice viridibus, alis macula caerulea
Habitat in India Borneo. L.S.N. p. 97
The Parrot of Borneo
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Borneus
P. macrourus ruber [The red Parrot of Borneo], with green-tipped flight feathers on the wings and tail, and with a blue spot on the wings.
It lives in Borneo. L.S.N p.97
The Parrot of Borneo