Jerboa, drawn from life by English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 - 1773). Detail of coloured engraving created in 1752. Edwards’ caption explains that the jerboa model for his drawings “is now the Property of Mr. Scarlett, Optician, by St. Ann’s Church, Westminster”, while “Mr. Blew, Librarian to the Inner Temple, had also lately one of them living”. Edwards then adds the observation: “It is remarkable that it hops like a Bird, on its hinder Legs, never setting its fore Paws on the Ground, but generally hides them in ye Furr under its Throat”.
Detail from hand-coloured engraving, created in 1752 by the English naturalist and ornithologist George Edwards (1694-1773). The whole engraving depicts poised and leaping jerboas, drawn from life in London. Of particular charm is Edwards’ caption, where he relates that the furry model for his drawings 'is now the Property of Mr. Scarlett, Optician, by St. Ann’s Church, Westminster', while 'Mr. Blew, Librarian to the Inner Temple, had also lately one of them living'. Edwards then adds the observation: 'It is remarkable that it hops like a Bird, on its hinder Legs, never setting its fore Paws on the Ground, but generally hides them in ye Furr under its Throat'. Jerboas are any of 33 species of long-tailed leaping rodents, well adapted to the deserts and steppes of eastern Europe, Asia and northern Africa. George Edwards, known as the 'father of British ornithology', began studying natural history after an unsuccessful career as a businessman 'applying himself to drawing and colouring such animals as fell under his notice'. His work drew many admirers, but his chief patron was Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, who employed Edwards as a natural history painter. In 1733, on Sloane's recommendation, Edwards was appointed librarian to the Royal College of Physicians in London. Edwards' famous 'A Natural History of Birds' (1743-1751) and 'Gleanings of Natural History' (1758-1764) vividly show animals, birds and insects from around the world. He produced his own plates for publication, which he then coloured personally or supervised others at the work, in order to preserve colour accuracy: 'I do not purpose to part with any of the Prints uncolour'd while I live, lest they should afterwards be colour'd by unskilful People.'
Size: 3613px × 3614px
Location: Against plain background
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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