Artwork
The Lyon Lizard (Lacerta 6-lineata)
The Lyon Lizard (Lacerta 6-lineata) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Mark Catesby. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work titled *The Lyon Lizard (Lacerta 6‑lineata)* is a hand‑colored print produced by etching and engraving on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *The Lyon Lizard (Lacerta 6‑lineata)* is a hand‑colored print produced by etching and engraving on laid paper. It appears in Mark Catesby’s 1737 volume *Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands*, which was the first printed survey of North American fauna and flora.
Subject & Meaning
The image pairs a small lizard, rendered with attention to scale, claws and coloration, with a plant whose long, waxy leaves culminate in a yellow inflorescence. The composition presents the animal perched on a branch, roots spreading below, emphasizing the ecological relationship between the species and its habitat for scientific observation.
Technique & Style
Catesby employed a combination of intaglio etching and engraving to achieve fine line work, then applied watercolor by hand to enhance botanical and zoological details. The use of laid paper provides a subtle texture, while the precise hatching and cross‑hatching convey anatomical accuracy typical of early eighteenth‑century natural history illustration.
History & Provenance
Created after Catesby’s extensive field studies in the American colonies, the plate was published in 1737 as part of his pioneering natural history series. Original copies of the book are held in major research libraries and museum collections, reflecting the work’s role in early transatlantic scientific exchange.
Context
The print belongs to a period when European naturalists sought to catalogue New World species for scholarly audiences. Catesby’s illustrations were intended for fellow naturalists, collectors, and patrons interested in empirical documentation, aligning with the Enlightenment emphasis on systematic observation and classification.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist who studied the flora and fauna of the New World.
