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Water-rail
Water Rail, adult; Spotted Crake, immature
Rallus aquaticus; Porzana porzana
Charl. Collins Fect. 1736;
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 adult Water Rail from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, Asia, and North Africa] and an immature Spotted Crake from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, North Africa, and Southern Africa].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Water-rail (Rallus aquaticus) Charl. Collins Fect. 1736;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: 1. The Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Aldrov. W. 314. 2. A small Water hen called Grinetta in Italy. Poliopus Galinula Minor W. 315.
Scientific name: Rallus aquaticus; Porzana porzana
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aquaticus.
Rallus alis Griseis fusco maculatis,
hypchondriis albo maculatis, rostro
luteo. L.S.N. p. 153
Habitat in Europa
The
Water Rail.
No. 28.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aquaticus.
Rallus with grey wings with tawny spots,
a white spotted abdomen, and a
yellow beak. L.S.N. p. 153
It lives in Europe.
The
Water Rail.
No. 28.