McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Perch?
Sculpin
Cottus
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 Sculpin from a 18th century specimen. Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Perch?
Scientific name: Cottus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Pisces Thoracici Pleuronectes
Flessus
Pleuronectes Oculis dextris.
Linea laterali aspera, spinulis ad
pinnas. L.S.N: p. 457. ed. nov
Habitat in Europa.
Pisces Thoracici Perca
Mediteranea
18 Perca Pinibus [pinnis] dorsalibus
unitis dorsalibus
reliquis fulvis
macula nigra ad
Pectorales. Lin: Sys N. 485
Mus. Ad. Fr. 2. p. 85.
Habitat in America.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Pisces Thoracici Pleuronectes
Flessus
Pleuronectes with the eyes on the right side.
There is a rough lateral line, with little spines
near the fins. L.S.N: p. 457. ed. nov
It lives in Europe.
Pisces Thoracici Perca
Mediteranea
18 Perca with connected
dorsal fins;
the rest are tawny
with a black patch near
the pectoral fins. Lin: Sys N. 485
Mus. Ad. Fr. 2. p. 85.
It lives in America.