The following six lots are the work of an Indian artist employed by Sir Henry Leland Harrison (1837-1892), Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the Board of Calcutta, later made a member of the Bengal Legislative Council and the Board of Revenue. The watercolours were executed between 1879 and 1881 as the respective specimens were caught and were probably preparatory drawings for a major work on the ornithology of India
Calcutta School, circa 1880
Details
Calcutta School, circa 1880
A Bronze-winged Jacana and A Pheasant-tailed Jacana
inscribed 'Metopidius Indicus./J. 900. Bronzewinged Jacana/Gondah. 1881./Found throughout India in weedy ponds, running over/the weeds with ease. Breeds during the rainy season, makes/a floating nest of weeds and lays several dark olive brown/eggs streaked with black. Feeds on vegetable matter also on insects. Hydrophasianus chirurgus J. 901. Pheasant-tailed Jacana./Gondah. 1881./Habitat and habits the same as foregoing. Lays 4 to 7 eggs, as above drawn. The illustration is of the/breeding plumage in the hot season and rains. In the winter it loses the long tail and yellow neck. The above/3 eggs were placed uncared for on my green baize table cover, and on the 10th day to my surprise were hatched.'; pencil and watercolour heightened with gum arabic and bodycolour
19 x 24¼in. (483 x 616mm.)
A Bronze-winged Jacana and A Pheasant-tailed Jacana
inscribed 'Metopidius Indicus./J. 900. Bronzewinged Jacana/Gondah. 1881./Found throughout India in weedy ponds, running over/the weeds with ease. Breeds during the rainy season, makes/a floating nest of weeds and lays several dark olive brown/eggs streaked with black. Feeds on vegetable matter also on insects. Hydrophasianus chirurgus J. 901. Pheasant-tailed Jacana./Gondah. 1881./Habitat and habits the same as foregoing. Lays 4 to 7 eggs, as above drawn. The illustration is of the/breeding plumage in the hot season and rains. In the winter it loses the long tail and yellow neck. The above/3 eggs were placed uncared for on my green baize table cover, and on the 10th day to my surprise were hatched.'; pencil and watercolour heightened with gum arabic and bodycolour
19 x 24¼in. (483 x 616mm.)