
Mark Catesby

The Natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. Vol. I. ©
The English naturalist Mark Catesby (1682-1749) compiled the first comprehensive survey of the flora and fauna of south-eastern North America (then part of the British colonies). He made two extended visits to the region, to Virginia 1712-19 and to Carolina and Florida 1722-26. He also travelled to the West Indies, visiting Jamaica in 1714 and the Bahama Islands in 1725.
When Catesby returned to England he began work on his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, which was published in parts between 1729 and 1747 and eventually comprised 220 illustrations with accompanying descriptions. The watercolours displayed in this section are Catesby’s original studies for the plates of the book. Believing that ‘artistic’ techniques of shading and perspective compromised objective truth, Catesby used instead what he termed ‘a Flat, tho’ exact manner’ to make a precise visual record of each creature and plant.
Catesby’s original watercolours for the Natural History were purchased by George III in 1768.
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Nightjar and mole cricket
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Ivory-billed woodpecker and willow oak
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Passenger pigeon and turkey oak
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Red-legged thrush and gumbo limbo tree
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Yellow-throated warbler, pine warbler and red maple
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Head of the flamingo and gorgonian
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Great hogfish
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Angel fish
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Sally lightfoot or rock crab and flame box crab
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Bull bay magnolia
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Striped skunk
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Jamaican anole and sweet gum
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Water frog and purple pitcher plant
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)
Pitch apple
Mark Catesby (1682-1749)