The Croaker and the Squirrelfish – Mark Catesby

Two fish, one above the other: a bronze croaker and a scarlet squirrelfish. At the top, the croaker, with reddish-brown scales, a golden eye and a red notched tail; below it, the squirrelfish, bright red, its large yellow eye and the tall spiny fin on its back spread out like a fan. Catesby names them in the plate itself: Perca undulata and Perca rubra.

The croaker, named for the croaking, drumming sound it makes, was common in the rivers of Virginia, and Catesby notes that it could reach three feet in deep waters such as Chesapeake Bay. The squirrelfish lives on the reefs of the Bahamas. He found both good to eat, but painted them with the eye of an artist: the two silhouettes, facing in opposite directions, form a perfectly balanced composition.

Mark Catesby, naturalist of the New World

Mark Catesby (1683-1749) was an English naturalist who explored Virginia, Carolina and the Bahamas. The second volume of his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands is devoted to fish, reptiles and plants, all etched and hand-coloured by the artist himself.

• Artist: Mark Catesby (1683-1749)
• Date: published 1731-1743
• Technique: etching and engraving, hand-coloured
• Source: The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, vol. II, plate 3
• Format: horizontal
• Theme: croaker, squirrelfish, fish, reef

Its warm reds bring colour to a kitchen, a bathroom or a dining room. Complete the series with The Porgy, The Catfish and The Black Moray, or browse our vintage animal posters. Printed on thick matte archival paper, in 13 sizes from A4 to A0. Free shipping, no minimum order. Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube.