Catesby

Mark Catesby (1682-1749) was a self-taught English natural scientist and illustrator. He explored and documented as the first European the exotic flora and fauna in  'the new world' - the part of America, which was then an English colony. 1722-26 he was sent out by influential  and wealthy natural collectors of the Royal Society, who paid him to send home as much as possible of the various exotic flora and fauna - preferably as natural specimens or else as illustrations. Catesby's personal ambition however was even greater. He made several hundred watercolours, which were later the basis for his coloured copper plates for the large-scale work: The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: Containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects and Plants ... 1731-43. The work is thoroughly personal, as Catesby is responsible for both texts and illustrations in the original edition. The LIFE Library's copy is the 2. edition from 1754 - revised by Mr. Edwards. In accordance with the ideas of the Enlightenment it was Catesby's ambition to correctly illustrate and document the flora og fauna both naturalistically and scientifically. The extreme charm and quality of the pictures however are due to Catesby's aesthetic sense in composition and colours.