Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.10528
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‘The Elk’
Date
1792
Creator
William Skelton (1763 - 1848, British) , Engraver
After
Philip Reinagle (1749 - 1833, British) , Painter
Object type
Library reference
R63366
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 216mm
width (print): 280mm
width (print): 280mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Zoological study of a moose [North America] or Eurasian elk [Europe] (Alces alces) Shown in a partly wooded landscape. This is a male specimen.
Plate 8 from Museum Leverianum containing select specimens from the museum of the late Sir Ashton Lever...by George Shaw (published by James Parkinson, 1792).
The accompanying text states that: “the specimen ...from which this figure was taken...was lately brought from Sweden, and regarded as a specimen of uncommon perfection...”
The plate is inscribed: “Reinagle delt. Skelton sculpt. CERVUS ALCES. THE ELK. Pub. as the Act directs Jany.1 1792 by I.Parkinson. Leverian Museum”.
Plate 8 from Museum Leverianum containing select specimens from the museum of the late Sir Ashton Lever...by George Shaw (published by James Parkinson, 1792).
The accompanying text states that: “the specimen ...from which this figure was taken...was lately brought from Sweden, and regarded as a specimen of uncommon perfection...”
The plate is inscribed: “Reinagle delt. Skelton sculpt. CERVUS ALCES. THE ELK. Pub. as the Act directs Jany.1 1792 by I.Parkinson. Leverian Museum”.
Object history
The natural historian George Shaw (1751-1813) was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1789. His book, from which this plate is taken, was an account of the collection built up by Sir Ashton Lever FRS (1729-1788). The museum was originally at Leicester House, London and was displayed publically after Lever’s death, moving to a rotunda building near Blackfriars Bridge.
Associated place