Artwork
A Young ALLIGATOR drawn from the Life in LONDON, October. 1739.
A Young ALLIGATOR drawn from the Life in LONDON, October. 1739. is a print by the Baroque artist Lampriere, C.. It dates from 1739 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. A Young ALLIGATOR drawn from the Life in LONDON, October 1739 is an engraving by C.
About this work
Behind it, a tree branch juts into the scene from the left, and in the far distance, a small town or castle sits on a hill.
This print shows a young alligator lounging in shallow water, its head turned slightly toward us. Behind it, a tree branch juts into the scene from the left, and in the far distance, a small town or castle sits on a hill. The water has tiny ripples, and the animal’s scaly skin is detailed with sharp lines.
The title tells us this was drawn from a live alligator in London in 1739. That’s unusual—most people in Europe hadn’t seen one up close before.
Next, look up Lampriere, C. to see how other artists handled strange animals in prints.
Overview
A Young ALLIGATOR drawn from the Life in LONDON, October 1739 is an engraving by C. Lampriere, depicting a juvenile alligator in a unique European context.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a young alligator in shallow water, with a tree branch and a distant hilltop town or castle in the background. Notably, it was drawn from life in London, a rarity as alligators were largely unseen in Europe at the time.
Technique & Style
The engraving features sharp lines to detail the alligator's scaly skin and subtle ripples in the water, showcasing Lampriere's attention to texture and environment.
History & Provenance
Created in October 1739, the print was likely published in Thomas Astley and John Green’s *A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels* (c. 1745–47).
Context
This work reflects early European fascination with exotic wildlife. Comparing with other artists' treatments of unusual animals in prints, such as those by C. Lampriere, provides insight into contemporary representation of the unknown.
Artist & collection
Artist
London in 1739 needed to see a croc or gator like this. C. Lampriere drew two lifelike prints that month: *A Young ALLIGATOR drawn from the Life in LONDON* and its twin *A Young CROCODILE drawn from the Life in LONDON*.…
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