Small Bittern

This charming depiction of a small bittern (Ardea stellaris minima) perched on the branch of an ash tree is by the remarkable 18th-century English naturalist and artist Mark Catesby, who collected specimens and made paintings of the diverse flora and fauna he encountered on two extended trips to America between 1712 and 1726. Catesby presented his work in The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, published in London in 1754.

The image measures 12” x 8¾”. It is matted and framed in a wooden frame with walnut veneer. The frame measures 17½" x 19¾"

From the Collections of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library at The New York Botanical Garden.