1745 George Edwards Hand-Colored Etching the Dusky and Spotted Duck

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This engraved etching is number 99 from George Edwards' A Natural History of Uncommon Birds Volume I published beginning in … Read more This engraved etching is number 99 from George Edwards' A Natural History of Uncommon Birds Volume I published beginning in 1743. It portrays The Dusky and Spotted Duck of Newfoundland.

George Edwards was an English naturalist with a yearning for travel and adventure. After settling in a job for the College of Physicians, he started painting animals for the British Museum. His interest in foreign lands and artistic ability lead him to publish four volumes picturing birds, not native to Britain. A Natural History of Uncommon Birds Volume 1 was published in 1743 with Volume 2 published in 1747, Volume 3 in 1750 and Volume 4 in 1751. The four original volumes contain 362 etchings by Edwards including 317 birds. The series was also published in France. He subsequently published a three volume series, The Gleanings of Natural History. Edwards work was very influential on naturalists who followed him. He is known as the “father of British Anthology”.

In the case of this particular duck, he notes "It was lent me by Mr. Holms, of the Tower of London; he fays the Newfoundland Fifhers call it the Lord, for what Reafon I cannot tell; but I fuppofe the Reason of the Name may be from the Likenefs of a Chain it has about its Neck"

The print is enhanced by French Matting in gold. It is in a modern gold-colored frame with environmental glass. See less