The Pole Cat (Viverra putorius)

published 1731-1743

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

The image shows an animal with black fur and white stripes, along with a flowering plant. The animal has three white stripes on its back, resembling a skunk. It is depicted in profile, standing on the ground with a pointy snout, yellow eye, and thin legs with clawed paws. Below the animal is a plant with long green leaves and blue flowers. The drawing is detailed, showing the texture of the fur and the intricacy of the plant.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and engraving with hand coloring on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Collection of Dr. and Mrs. George Benjamin Green

  • Dimensions

    plate: 26 x 34.9 cm (10 1/4 x 13 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 36.8 x 53.8 cm (14 1/2 x 21 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.67

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Natural History, Vol. vol.2, no. 62

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Dr. and Mrs. George Benjamin Green, Virginia; gift to NGA, 1991.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2007

  • Fabulous Journeys and Faraway Places: Travels on Paper, 1450 - 1700, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 2007

Bibliography

1771

  • Catesby, Mark. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. London: 1771.

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: MC; lower center in plate: Pseudo Phalangium; lower right in plate: Putorius; upper right in plate: T.62.

Watermarks

GR with shield

Wikidata ID

Q74894962

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