Artwork
The Wood Pelican (Tantalus Loculator)
The Wood Pelican (Tantalus Loculator) 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 print depicts a wood pelican rendered in a combination of etching, engraving, and hand‑applied colour on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1737, this print depicts a wood pelican rendered in a combination of etching, engraving, and hand‑applied colour on laid paper. The image is part of Mark Catesby’s extensive visual record of North American natural history, which later appeared in his multi‑volume work Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a solitary wood pelican, its body balanced on a single extended leg while the other leg is drawn up. The bird’s long neck is thrust forward and its beak is opened wide, suggesting a moment of feeding or vocalisation. Subtle background marks hint at a nearby egg and a faint outline of the bird’s head, adding context to its reproductive habits.
Technique & Style
Catesby employed fine, parallel lines to render the plumage, creating a texture reminiscent of stitching. The engraving defines the darker wing and tail feathers, while the hand‑coloured washes supply the characteristic gray‑white tones of the bird’s body. The use of laid paper provides a slightly textured surface that enhances the detail of the line work.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during Catesby’s field investigations in the American colonies and later incorporated into his natural history volumes, which were issued between 1729 and 1747. These publications presented 220 illustrated plates, marking the first comprehensive illustrated account of North American flora and fauna.
Context
At the time of its creation, European knowledge of New World wildlife was limited. Catesby’s systematic approach combined scientific observation with artistic precision, offering European audiences one of the earliest visual references for species such as the wood pelican, then known scientifically as Pelicanus sylvaticus.
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.
