18th Century Catesby Hand-colored Bird & Plant Engraving "The Crested Titmous"
A hand-colored copperplate engraving of a bird and plants by Mark Catesby (1683-1749) entitled "The Crested Titmous" from "The Natural History of Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahama Islands", published in 1731. It depicts a small Crested Titmous bird, facing left, perched on the stem of a plant with clusters of mauve colored star-like flowers.
Creator: Mark Catesby (1682 - 1749, English)
Creation Year: 1731
Dimensions: Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Width: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
A hand-colored copperplate engraving of a bird and plants by Mark Catesby (1683-1749) entitled "The Crested Titmous" from "The Natural History of Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahama Islands", published in 1731. It depicts a small Crested Titmous bird, facing left, perched on the stem of a plant with clusters of mauve colored star-like flowers.
Creator: Mark Catesby (1682 - 1749, English)
Creation Year: 1731
Dimensions: Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Width: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
A hand-colored copperplate engraving of a bird and plants by Mark Catesby (1683-1749) entitled "The Crested Titmous" from "The Natural History of Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahama Islands", published in 1731. It depicts a small Crested Titmous bird, facing left, perched on the stem of a plant with clusters of mauve colored star-like flowers.
Creator: Mark Catesby (1682 - 1749, English)
Creation Year: 1731
Dimensions: Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Width: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This original Catesby hand-colored engraving, on laid paper with a large central Fleur-de-Lys watermark, is presented in a cream color French mat. The mat measures 20" x 15.5" and the sheet measures 18.75" x 14.75".
Mark Catesby was born in England to a prosperous family, but he traveled to America, first to visit his sister and her husband in 1712. From 1712 to 1719 he explored America observing its birds and plants, taking notes, creating drawings and collecting specimens. He returned to England with this material and created more detailed drawings. His next visit to America 1722-1726 allowed for more detailed research. Upon his return to England he created his monumental and beautiful work "The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and Bahama Islands", which was published in London in two folio volumes of 11 parts each consisting of 20 plates. It was the first work to depict the flora & fauna of the new world. The illustrations are among the most beautiful and best loved bird and botanical prints of all times. This established the Englishman Mark Catesby as the father of American Ornithology.
