McGill Library
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Venezuelan Troupial
Icterus icterus
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 a pair of Venezuelan Troupials from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: South America and the Caribbean].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Cha. Collins Fect. April 1741.
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Coracia Linaei. Galbula. Icterus ex auro nigroq[ue] Varia Catesby. 2 if [the] Galbula. Q. If the Persian Pic Aldrov. W. 132 that was described from a picture so perhaps the yellow ring round the neck omitted.
Scientific name: Icterus icterus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Picae Oriolus
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Picae Oriolus
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Picae Oriolus