The Ribbon Snake (Coluber saurita)

published 1731-1743

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

The image shows a large plant with clusters of green leaves and purple berries. A coiled brown snake with a striped pattern is located at the base of the plant. The colors in the image include shades of green for the leaves, rich purple for the berries, earthy brown for the snake, and a subtle beige background. Small pops of red can be seen from flowers among the leaves and berries. The snake is nestled in the lower right section of the image, while the plant extends upwards and slightly to the right and left, with the berries clustering towards the upper sections of the branches.

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: 35.2 x 26 cm (13 7/8 x 10 1/4 in.)
    sheet: 53.7 x 37 cm (21 1/8 x 14 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.77

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Natural History, Vol. vol.2, no. 50

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

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

Associated Names

Bibliography

1771

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

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: MC; lower left in plate: Calyculato. &c.; lower right in plate: Anguis &c.; upper right in plate: 50

Watermarks

fleur-de-lis

Wikidata ID

Q74895011

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