The Ribbon Snake (Coluber saurita)

published 1731-1743

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

The image features a botanical illustration of a leafy plant with smooth, elongated leaves, clusters of small, round berries, and a coiled snake. The color palette consists of various shades of green for the leaves with hints of blue, while the berries are deep red and green. The snake has brown, olive, and yellow stripes. The plant's branches spread outward, some with clusters of berries at the tips. The snake is coiled at the base with its head slightly facing upwards.

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 26.2 cm (13 7/8 x 10 5/16 in.)
    sheet: 53.8 x 37 cm (21 3/16 x 14 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.78

  • 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 with the letters GB

Wikidata ID

Q74895015

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