The Muray (Muraena helena)

published 1731-1743

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

This is a painting of an eel. It shows a detailed representation of an eel-like fish with a long, slender body, textured scales, an open mouth with sharp teeth, and an eye looking forward. The color palette is predominantly dark green with subtle yellow undertones. The eel's body curves elegantly against a neutral background, in a style reminiscent of natural history artwork, often used in scientific studies, similar to 18th-century naturalist illustrations.

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: 27 x 36.7 cm (10 5/8 x 14 7/16 in.)
    sheet: 34.4 x 51.6 cm (13 9/16 x 20 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.90

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Natural History, Vol. vol.2, no. 20

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

upper center in plate: Muroena; upper left in plate: T 20; by later hand, lower left in graphite: Catesby 1743; by later hand, lower right in graphite: The Moray 1743 15-

Watermarks

IV

Wikidata ID

Q74895117

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