Mark Catesby, great naturalist of the 17th century, began his artistic journey in the United States. After leaving England to feed his curiosity, he lived in Virginia for seven years. He returned to his home with paintings of the plants and animals he had documented, and it was then, that he began his great venture into naturalist painting, eventually cataloging "the flora and fauna of the Carolinas and the Bahamas by gathering seeds and specimens, compiling notes, and making watercolor sketches" (The Catesby Commemorative Trust).
Last Friday night, we were honored to take part in a fantastic night celebrating the imprint of this legendary artist. Our framed prints were front and center as guests entered the Grolier Club, making the initial imprint. The discussion was lead by Leslie Overstreet from the Smithsonian Libraries, who discussed the production of the three editions of Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. Dr. Charles Nelson then went on to discuss his new book, The Curious Mister Catesby; a "Truly Ingenious" naturalist explores new worlds eventually ending with David J. Elliott, the Executive Director of the Catesby Commemorative Trust, on Mark Catesby. We were honored to be a part of this momentous occasion, and were thrilled to make some custom works for the event.
View a selection of our Catesby prints online here or please visit one of our store locations for the full collection. You may also enjoy Before Kermit, There was Catesby by Jessica Pigza.