Who painted The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?)?

The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?) was painted by Mark Catesby in 1737.

Where can I see The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?)?

The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?)?

The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?) is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?)

Mark Catesby , 1737

The Spotted Ribbon Snake (Coluber nebulosus?) 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. Created in 1737, this hand‑colored etching portrays a slender ribbon snake coiled among foliage.

About this work

Overview

The composition places the reptile against a muted beige ground, emphasizing its brown, speckled body and delicate tail curl.

Created in 1737, this hand‑colored etching portrays a slender ribbon snake coiled among foliage. The composition places the reptile against a muted beige ground, emphasizing its brown, speckled body and delicate tail curl. Surrounding the serpent are green leaves, white blossoms with orange throats, pink flowers and a small blue berry, rendering a naturalistic vignette typical of early eighteenth‑century scientific illustration.

Subject & Meaning

The image documents a ribbon snake, a member of the colubrid family, rendered with attention to anatomical detail and coloration. By situating the animal amid representative plant life, the work conveys both the creature’s habitat and the broader ecological relationships that early naturalists sought to record, reflecting an empirical approach to studying North American wildlife.

Technique & Style

The print combines etching and engraving, allowing fine line work for scales and botanical elements, while hand‑applied watercolor adds realistic hues. Laid paper provides a subtle texture that enhances the delicate shading. The blend of precise incised lines with painterly coloration exemplifies the hybrid methods employed by natural history illustrators to achieve scientific accuracy and visual clarity.

History & Provenance

The plate forms part of Mark Catesby’s monumental series *Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands*, issued between 1729 and 1747. This multi‑volume work was the first systematic illustrated survey of North American flora and fauna, and the snake illustration appears among its many species plates, contributing to the publication’s reputation as a foundational reference.

Context

Catesby, an English naturalist and explorer, produced his plates while traveling in the American colonies, where he collected specimens and observations. The print reflects the Baroque period’s emphasis on detailed, didactic imagery, yet it also anticipates later Enlightenment scientific illustration by prioritizing accuracy over decorative excess, bridging artistic and scholarly conventions of its era.