Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9973
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‘The Elephant, and the Rhinoceros’
Date
1752
Creator
George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
Object type
Library reference
38029
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 286mm
width (print): 220mm
width (print): 220mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Zoological studies of an elephant calf and a female Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), the latter with a detail drawing of a rhinoceros penis.
Plate 221 from chapter 11 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). The author describes the animals within the text: “The Elephant is said to be the largest of all four-footed land-animals; tho the living subject, from which this was drawn some years ago in London, did not exceed a common cow in height...The Rinoceros is generally accounted the next four-footed beast in magnitude to the Elephant...This I drew from a female, in London, A.D.1752...I have by me a draught of a Rhinoceros taken by a gentleman who was an officer on board the Shaftsbury, one of the East-India Company’s ships, Capt. Matthew Bookey, commander, A.D.1737...I have figured the penis in a corner of my plate from the above gentleman’s drawing.”
The plate is inscribed: “Drawn from a young ELEPHANT, in London. The Teeth [tusks] are added to compleat the Figure. The female RHINOCEROS, drawn from life in London, A.D. 1752. Published Septemr. 14 1752 Geo Edwards delin et sculp.”
Plate 221 from chapter 11 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). The author describes the animals within the text: “The Elephant is said to be the largest of all four-footed land-animals; tho the living subject, from which this was drawn some years ago in London, did not exceed a common cow in height...The Rinoceros is generally accounted the next four-footed beast in magnitude to the Elephant...This I drew from a female, in London, A.D.1752...I have by me a draught of a Rhinoceros taken by a gentleman who was an officer on board the Shaftsbury, one of the East-India Company’s ships, Capt. Matthew Bookey, commander, A.D.1737...I have figured the penis in a corner of my plate from the above gentleman’s drawing.”
The plate is inscribed: “Drawn from a young ELEPHANT, in London. The Teeth [tusks] are added to compleat the Figure. The female RHINOCEROS, drawn from life in London, A.D. 1752. Published Septemr. 14 1752 Geo Edwards delin et sculp.”
Associated place