Snake head skeletons
Date
1872
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 265mm
width (drawing): 410mm
width (drawing): 410mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Anatomical study of the skeletons of four snake species’ heads:
A. Russell’s viper, Daboia Russellii.
B. Indian Cobra, Naja naja, here styled Naja tripudians.
C. Braided krait, Bungarus fasciatus.
D. Indian ratsnake, Ptyas mucosa, here styled Ptyas mucosus.
Inscribed in ink: ‘PLATE/ A. Daboia Russellii/ B. Naja Tripudians./ A. Maxillary bone./ E. Maxillary teeth./ F. Poison fang./ G. Palative bone./ H. Pterygoid bone./ N. Mandible./ T. Lympaccia bone./ M. Mastoid bone./ E. Ecto-pterygoid bone./ O. Palative teeth./ R. Pterygoid teeth./ B. Intermaxillary bone./ P. Parietal bone./ T. Frontal bone’ with further pencil annotation ‘5’. Pencil annotations believed to be in Joseph Fayrer’s hand.
From MS/628, a set of paintings and drawings executed by students of the Government School of Art, Kolkata, for Joseph Fayrer’s The Thanatophidia of India. Later published as part of plate 31 of this text.
Sir Joseph Fayrer, first baronet, (1824-1907), surgeon and author, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1877. Fayrer worked in India between 1850 and 1872 and is best known for The Thanatophidia of India, a study of venomous snakes, illustrated by members of the Kolkata School of Art and published by the colonial government.
A. Russell’s viper, Daboia Russellii.
B. Indian Cobra, Naja naja, here styled Naja tripudians.
C. Braided krait, Bungarus fasciatus.
D. Indian ratsnake, Ptyas mucosa, here styled Ptyas mucosus.
Inscribed in ink: ‘PLATE/ A. Daboia Russellii/ B. Naja Tripudians./ A. Maxillary bone./ E. Maxillary teeth./ F. Poison fang./ G. Palative bone./ H. Pterygoid bone./ N. Mandible./ T. Lympaccia bone./ M. Mastoid bone./ E. Ecto-pterygoid bone./ O. Palative teeth./ R. Pterygoid teeth./ B. Intermaxillary bone./ P. Parietal bone./ T. Frontal bone’ with further pencil annotation ‘5’. Pencil annotations believed to be in Joseph Fayrer’s hand.
From MS/628, a set of paintings and drawings executed by students of the Government School of Art, Kolkata, for Joseph Fayrer’s The Thanatophidia of India. Later published as part of plate 31 of this text.
Sir Joseph Fayrer, first baronet, (1824-1907), surgeon and author, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1877. Fayrer worked in India between 1850 and 1872 and is best known for The Thanatophidia of India, a study of venomous snakes, illustrated by members of the Kolkata School of Art and published by the colonial government.
Object history
These artworks were presented to the Royal Society on 8 January 1874 by Joseph Fayrer and acknowledged shortly after at a meeting of Council: ‘Read a letter from Dr. Fayrer, offering his collection of original drawings of the Poisonous Snakes of India to the Royal Society. Resolved - That Dr. Fayrer’s offer be accepted, and that the best thanks of the President and Council be returned to him for his gift.’ [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, vol. 4, 1870-1877, p.204, 15 January 1874.]
Related fellows
Joseph Fayrer (1824 - 1907, British) , Surgeon
Associated place
