Natural history

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"The Cumberland Tree"

Artist: Port Jackson Painter
Created: [between 1788 and 1797]
Dimensions: 29.3 x 17.1 cm
Reference: Watling Drawing - no. 439

 

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Two details from a flowering tree or shrub against a plain background. Depicted on the top half of the sheet is a detail of a flower head, composed of a cluster of white flowers with five petals and long white stamens, and yellow buds. There are two leaves visible, coloured green and overlaid with an intricate network of darker green veins. On the lower half of the sheet there is a detail of the fruit, which are very dark purple to black set on a red calyx. There is a detail of an open fruit to the right, with four pale brown seeds around it. The drawing is annotated in brown ink.

 

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  • Port Jackson Painter]
  • The drawing is inscribed in blue pencil at top right with the number "374", which refers to the pre-1984 numbering system for the Watling collection.
  • The drawing is annotated in brown ink at top right "Flower", at lower right "Seed", and at bottom "The Cumberland tree found near the sea shore is supposed to grow to Timber".
  • The drawing is unsigned and undated.
  • The author of this catalogue record is Suzanne Stenning.
  • By permission of the trustees of the Natural History Museum (London)
  • Two sets of transparencies held in the Natural History Museum (London) Zoology Library and Picture Library: Picture Library reference number 12439
  • James Lee of Kensington : purchased ; 1902
  • Data sheet available