McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
White Stork
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
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 White Stork from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: White Stork (Ciconia alba)
Manuscript note on back of drawing: [Sketch of specimen's head] The White Heron or Stork as it was called at the Duke of Cumberlands; length of bill 8 inches from the pinion to the end of the flight 23 in length of the leg from the joint of the knee 10 Inches to the end of th Claws 13 inches length of the thinghs is 10 inches
Scientific name: Ciconia ciconia
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Ciconia
Ardea alba, remigibus nigris
cute sanguinea. L.S.N. p. 142
Habitat in Europa Asia & Africa.
The White Stock
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Ciconia
Ardea alba [The white...], with black flight feathers on the wings,
and blood-red skin. L.S.N. p. 142
It lives in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The White Stock