The Sole (Pleuronectes lunatus)

published 1731-1743

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

The image shows a large fish with an oval-shaped body decorated with blue circular patterns across its brown, textured skin. The color palette consists mainly of dark brown and blue against a light beige background. The fish is oriented horizontally with its head to the right, a large eye visible, and fins flaring out along the top and bottom edges of its body. The tail fin is slightly splayed out at the left end of the fish.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and engraving with hand coloring on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Collection of Dr. and Mrs. George Benjamin Green

  • Dimensions

    plate: 26.8 x 36 cm (10 9/16 x 14 3/16 in.)
    sheet: 37.3 x 54.1 cm (14 11/16 x 21 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.83

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Natural History, Vol. vol.2, no. 27

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 center in plate: Solea Lunata &c; upper right in plate: T27

Wikidata ID

Q74895054

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