Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9825
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Cochineal production at the town of Guaspaltepeque
Date
1730
Creator
William Houstoun (1699 - 1733, British) , Botanist
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 365mm
width (painting): 505mm
width (painting): 505mm
Subject
Description
Schematic view of the town of Guaspaltepeque, in Oaxaca State, Mexico,as a centre for cochineal production. The simplified landscape shows a church and curate’s house, but mainly the agriculture, collection and processing of cochineal, the traditional Mexican dye, from the scale insect Dactylopius coccus. From the manuscript copy paper “Dr Houston’s letter to Sir Hans Sloane...giving an account of some plants and enclosing a draught of the town of Guaspaltepeque in the Bishopric of Oaxaca with its explanation... “, by William Houstoun, 9 December 1730. The author stated: “The drawing of the manufactory of cochineal I did from an Indian painting in the possession of one Mr. Knightsbridge, an English Gentleman, who has been long in the Kingdom of Mexico...” Not signed.
Royal Society Register Book Original, vol.16 1731-1732, pp.13-18. The paper was read before the Royal Society on 1 July 1731, but not published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
Royal Society Register Book Original, vol.16 1731-1732, pp.13-18. The paper was read before the Royal Society on 1 July 1731, but not published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
Associated place