Honeysuckle, African grey parrot, hairy lupin, tutsan, black howler monkey, green blowfly, alkanet, and stag beetle, Alexander Marshal, c. 1650-82

A page of watercolours including a stag beetle, a fly, a grey monkey and grey parrot in miniature and also four flowering plants including honeysuckle, the large blue lupin, a sprig of borage and 'park leaves'. All the plants here are native english species except for the hairy lupin at top right, which was introduced from southern europe. The mandibles of the stag beetle at lower right point upwards like a stag’s antlers, a strange inaccuracy given marshal’s expertise as an entomologist. Provenance: presented to george iv. Date: c. 1650-82. Dimensions: 45.8 x 33.1 cm (sheet of paper). Medium: watercolour. Honeysuckle, African grey parrot, hairy lupin, tutsan, black howler monkey, green blowfly, alkanet, and stag beetle (RCIN 924371-1)