Angelshark
Date
1686
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Library reference
18574
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (page): 365mm
width (page): 230mm
width (page): 230mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Study of an angelshark, Squatinidae, here styled Squatina salu and under the common name of the monk or angel-fish.
Printed inscription ‘Squatina Salu. Tab: D.3. Sumptibus Dni Cyril Wych Eq: aur é S:R.’ and further hand annotation ‘The Monk or Angel fish.’ Numbered ‘19’ top right hand corner.’
Plate D.3 from De historia piscium libri quatuor, by Francis Willughby and John Ray (Oxford, 1686).
Francis Willughby (1635-1672), British naturalist, was an Original Fellow of the Royal Society.
John Ray (1627-1705), British naturalist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1667.
Sir Cyril Wyche (ca.1632-1707), British politician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1661 and was President from 1683-1684.
Printed inscription ‘Squatina Salu. Tab: D.3. Sumptibus Dni Cyril Wych Eq: aur é S:R.’ and further hand annotation ‘The Monk or Angel fish.’ Numbered ‘19’ top right hand corner.’
Plate D.3 from De historia piscium libri quatuor, by Francis Willughby and John Ray (Oxford, 1686).
Francis Willughby (1635-1672), British naturalist, was an Original Fellow of the Royal Society.
John Ray (1627-1705), British naturalist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1667.
Sir Cyril Wyche (ca.1632-1707), British politician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1661 and was President from 1683-1684.
Object history
The Historia Piscium, a work begun by Francis Willughby (1635–1672), completed by John Ray (1627–1705), was the first comprehensive book of ichthyology. It consists of two parts, the text and illustrations, which were printed separately but frequently bound together. For both parts, Ray drew heavily on works by others, including Hippolytus Salviani (1514-1572), Guillaume Rondelet (1507-1566), Conrad Gessner (1516-1565), Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) and more.
The Royal Society was responsible for publication of this work, including the printing of its plates, of which there are 187 in total. This proved to be an expensive endeavour, and many of the plates were sponsored by individual Fellows to help defray the costs, such as this one, sponsored by Cyril Wyche (ca.1632-1707). This copy of Historia Piscium is annotated with the remarks of Tancred Robinson (1658-1748) penned down by Francis Aston (1644-1715); with later annotations by Cromwell Mortimer (c.1699-1752).
The Royal Society was responsible for publication of this work, including the printing of its plates, of which there are 187 in total. This proved to be an expensive endeavour, and many of the plates were sponsored by individual Fellows to help defray the costs, such as this one, sponsored by Cyril Wyche (ca.1632-1707). This copy of Historia Piscium is annotated with the remarks of Tancred Robinson (1658-1748) penned down by Francis Aston (1644-1715); with later annotations by Cromwell Mortimer (c.1699-1752).
Related fellows
Associated place