940936
- TitleVolume 04: Zoology of N. [New] Holland etc.
- Call numberSAFE/PXD 1098/vol. 4
- Level of descriptionitem
- Date
1790s - Type of material
- Reference code940936
- Issue CopyDigitised
- Physical Description144 drawings - watercolour
- Collection historyAylmer Bourke Lambert (1761-1842); sale, S. Leigh Sotheby, 26 Lower Grosvenor Street (the residence of the late Mr Lambert), London, 18-20 April, 1842 (Catalogue of the valuable botanical library of the late A.B. Lambert, F.R.S., F.S.A., &c, of Boyton House, Wiltshire), lot 677 (‘Zoology of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land, A Collection of 142 fine Drawings, in Colours, of the Fishes and Birds, the Natural Size, of New Holland, &c., most beautifully executed, with their names attached, in 1 vol. large folio, half bound’). The 13th Earl of Derby, Knowsley, and thence by descent to the 19th Earl of Derby.
- Scope and ContentFolio (503 x 392 mm.), 19th century half tan morocco gilt by Hodgson, Liverpool, with marbled papered boards, the spine in compartments with red morocco lettering pieces titled ‘ZOOLOGY OF N. HOLLAND ETC:’, the 13th Earl of Derby’s bookplate on front pastedown.
An album containing 32 watercolours of fish and 112 watercolours of birds.
The fish all inscribed in an 18th century hand:
“This drawing the size of Nature ... March”
“The same size as the Fish the drawing was taken from”
“This drawing is half the size of Nature .... the white on the side is of a bright burnished silver )
The birds all inscribed in an 18th century hand:
“The Natural Size”
“1/4th The size of Nature”
“-The Female- / A Scale of two feet / The Extreme Length from the tip of one Wing to the tip of the other 5 feet 1 In.ch”
Watercolour heightened with gum arabic and white on paper, several with painted margins along the lower edges of the compositions, on paper with watermarks including (for the fishes) “J Whatman”, Britannia, “I Taylor”, Horn (Bugle) with CR ; (for the birds) “J Whatman”, Britannia, “1 Taylor”, Horn (Bugle) with CR, “R Williams”, and indistinct watermark “T French” the sheets mounted on blue laid paper album leaves, 50 x 37 cm. and smaller.
The title of this album in the Lambert sale (‘Zoology of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land …‘), abbreviated on Lord Derby’s spine (‘Zoology of N. Holland etc.’) suggests some of the drawings must follow the settlement of Van Diemen’s Land in 1803.
The watermarks are mostly early, c.l770-1790, and include the Whatman, Britannia, Taylor and Horn (bugle), watermarks which feature on the Watling Collection papers used both by Watling and the Port Jackson Painter.
The fishes include some variants of the unsigned works, given to the Port Jackson Painter, in the Watling Collection:
Watling drawing no.:
372 “Wel-gnoo-roo”
375 “Karra gnorra”
378 “Goe in mag gee”
379 “Mannadaang”
and appear to be by the same hand.
They are all further in the same embellishing hand which titles, amongst others, Watling Collection nos 378 and 379, and Port Jackson Drawings (Banks Ms34) nos 64 and 66.
The birds include variants of subjects and species featured in the Banks Ms34, Watling and Lambert Collections: for example the drawing here of the Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a variant of the watercolour in the Watling Collection (Watling no. 340); and some new images, of which the female black swan is the most remarkable, by or after the Port Jackson Painter, the image copied in the Lambert Drawings (vol. 1 Pl.80), and the companion to the male black swan in the Watling Collection.
For a discussion of the male black swan by the Port Jackson Painter in the Watling Collection, its possible sources, and of the subsequent engravings, and of the same subject sold at Christie’s Australia, Melbourne, 6-7 December 1994, subsequently given to the ‘Sydney Bird Painter’ and now in the Vizard Foundation, see Jane Lennon, Art and Science: Early Australian Natural History Drawings and Engravings, in Australiana, August 1995, pp.72-77 (where the illustrations of the two drawings are transposed).
The watercolours are listed in numerical order as they appear in the album. Titles of the majority of the subjects are as follows: current common name where identified; according to Latham’s penciled English or Latin identifications on the watercolours; from the titles given to the matching Watling Collection subjects in the Natural History Museum, London (First Fleet Artwork Collection). The first number in brackets refers to the old Watling drawing number, the second number in brackets refer to the post-1984 Watling mount number.
Items listed “watercolour on paper watermarked ?” indicates that the watermark is not visible.
1 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
2 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
3 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
4 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
5 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘T French’
6 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
7 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
8 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
9 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
10 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
11 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
12 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
13 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’?
14 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
15 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
16 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
17 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
18 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
19 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
20 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
21 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
22 Unidentified fish
Wrasse? (Watling 375/310)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
23 Unidentified fish
Old Wife (Watling 378/313)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
24 Unidentified fish
Sweep Scorpis (Watling 379/314)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
25 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
26 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
27 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
28 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
29 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
30 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
31 Unidentified fish
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
32 Barracouta
watercolour on folded sheet extending to 54 cm. wide
33 Tawny Frogmouth
Gracile Goatsucker (Watling 297/222)
watercolour on paper
34 White-breasted Sea-Eagle
Allied to the Axillary Falcon (Watling 102/8)
watercolour on paper
35 Black-shouldered Kite
Axillary Falcon (pencil inscription)
Axillary Falcon (Watling 99/5)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
36 Red Goshawk
Radiated Falcon (Watling 103/10)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
37
1. Unidentified bird
Agile Honey-eater (pencil inscription)
Black Headed Creeper (Watling 185/106)
2. Unidentified bird
Lanius flavigaster (pencil inscription)
Yellow-bellied Shrike (Watling 106/30)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
38 Unidentified bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
39 Red-backed Sea-eagle
Var[iety] of Pondicherry E[agle] (pencil inscription)
Pondicherry Eagle (Watling 97/3)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’?
40 Rainbow Lorikeet
Ps. Haematodus (pencil inscription)
Red-breasted or Blue-bellied Parrot (Watling 125/36)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
41 Musk Lorikeet
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
42 King Parrot (male)
Scarlet & Green (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
43 King Parrot (female)
Scarlet & Green (pencil inscription)
Scarlet and Green Parrot (Watling 136/51)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
44 King Parrot
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
45 Crimson Rosella
Pennantian P[arrot] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
46 Crimson Rosella
Pennantian P[arrot] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
47 Eastern Rosella
Non-pareil P[arrot] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
48 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Banksian Parrot (pencil inscription)
Banksian Cockatoo (Watling 140/56)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
49 Unidentified bird
Scythrops (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
50 Magpie-lark
Corvus cyanoleucos (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
51 Dollarbird
Coracius orientalis (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
52 Pallid Cuckoo (probably)
Cuculus – new? (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘R Williams’
53
1. Sacred Kingfisher
Alcedo sacre (pencil inscription)
2. Azure Kingfisher
2-3 toed N. Holland K[ingfisher] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
54 Blue-faced Honeyeater
Merops cyanoris (pencil inscription)
Blue-cheeked Thrush (Watling 225/146)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
55 Red Wattlebird
Merops carunculatus (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
56 Unidentified bird
Turdus leucotis (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
57 Red-browed Finch
Turdus new (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Horn with GR’
58 Unidentified bird
Turdus …? (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
59 Unidentified bird
Turdus …? (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
60 Unidentified bird
Turdus cyanocephalus (pencil inscription)
Blue-headed Thrush (Watling 227/148)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
61 Blue-faced Honeyeater
Turdus cyanoris (pencil inscription)
Blue-cheeked Thrush (Watling 225/146)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
62 Red-browed Finch
Loxia astrild (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
63 Unidentified bird
Musc[icapa] flavigastra (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
64 Scarlet Robin
Musca crythrogastra (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
65 Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
Muscic[apa] novae Hollandiae (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’?
66
1. Scarlet Honeyeater
Certhia/H[oney]-eater]/orientale (pencil inscription)
2. Unidentified bird
Muscicapa malachura (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
67 Unidentified bird
Probably a new Lanius? or Muscicapa (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked Britannia
68 Red-winged Fairy-wren - male and female
Male and female Superb Warblers (ink inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
69 Unidentified bird with a lizard
Sylvia rufirostris
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
70
1. Unidentified bird
Bonnet Warbler (Watling 283/208)
2. Unidentified bird
Crimson throated Manakin (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
71 Unidentified bird
Pipra new? Allied to Cinereous M.? (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
72
1. Spotted Pardalote
Pipra punctata (pencil inscription)
2. Unidentified bird
Muscic[apa] rufifrom (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
73 Scarlet Robins (male and female)
Musc[icapa]. Crythrogastra. (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
74 Unidentified birds (male and female)
Hirundo caudacuta (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
75 Unidentified bird
N. Holland Goatsucker (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
76 Unidentified bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
77 Unidentified bird
watercolour on paper
78 Eastern Curlew
Curlew (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
79 Black-fronted Dotterel
Char[adrius] Hiaticula (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
80 Masked Lapwing or Spur-winged Plover
watercolour on paper
81 Scarlet Robin
watercolour on paper watermarked Horn with GR[?]
82 Golden Plover
Golden Plover (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked Britannia
83 Golden Plover
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
female (pencil inscription]
84 Purple Swamphen
Purple Gallinule (pencil inscription]
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
85 Sooty Tern
Sterna novae Hollandae (pencil inscription)
New-Holland Tern (Watling 342/274)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
86 Black Swan
The Female anas atrata (ink and pencil inscriptions)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
87 Duck
watercolour on paper
88 Duck
watercolour on paper
89 Duck
watercolour on paper
90 Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern (Watling 340/272)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
91 Unidentified bird
Pel. borssanus[?] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper
92 Australian Pelican
watercolour on paper
93 Unidentified bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
94 Unidentified birds
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
95 Noisy Friarbird
Knob fronted Honey Eater (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
96 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
97 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper
98 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
99 Buff-banded Rail
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
100 New Holland Honeyeater
Certh[ia] N[ovae] Holl[andiae] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
101 Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
102 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
103 Unidentified Bird
Honey-eater – new? (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
104 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘R Williams’
105 Red-browed Finch
watercolour watermarked Horn with GR
106 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
107 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
108 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
109 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
110 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
111 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
112 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
113 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
114 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
115 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
116 Bell-miner (probably)
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
117 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
118 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
119 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
120 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
121 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘T French’
122 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘R Williams’
123 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
124 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
125 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
126 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
127 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
128 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
129 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
130 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘R Williams’
131 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
132 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘R Williams’
133 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
134 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
135 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
136 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
137 Unidentified Bird
probably the Harmonic Th[rush] (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
138 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘T French’
139 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘T French’
140
1. Unidentified Bird
2. Red-browed Finch
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘J Whatman’
141 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
142 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘I Taylor’
143 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
144 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ‘Britannia’
145 Unidentified Bird
watercolour on paper watermarked ?
146 Unidentified Bird
Honey eater (pencil inscription)
watercolour on paper watermarked ? - Access Conditions
Access via appointment - Copying ConditionsOut of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales - Description source
New South Wales drawings : the property of the Earl of Derby : important early Australian watercolours from the library of the 13th Earl of Derby at Knowsley [catalogue] / Christie's. [London : Christie's, 2011]
Correction: Christie's catalogue records the title for Volume 04: Zoology of N. [New] Holland etc., 31 watercolours of fish and 113 watercolours of birds.
There are 32 watercolours of fish and 112 watercolours of birds.
Item listing prepared by Warwick Hirst, April-May 2012 - General note
Digital order no:Album ID : 961231 - Exhibited in
Artist colony: drawing Sydney’s nature - State Library of New South Wales - Open Rosetta viewer
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