English naturalist Mark Catesby was born #OTD (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749). Here is both his original watercolor study and published print (which he also etched and hand-colored himself) of an American Bullfrog, scientific name now Lithobates catesbeianus in his honor, from his landmark work The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands (1st ed. 1729-47):
1. c. 1722-6 watercolour and bodycolour heightened with gum arabic on paper, 26.5 x 36.7 cm Royal Collection Trust RCIN 926025
2. Plate 72, v.2, 1734-47 hand-colored lithograph Biodiversity Heritage Library
Book recommendations:
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