The Green Lizard of Jamaica (Lacerta bullaris)
1737
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1737
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Green Lizard of Jamaica (Lacerta bullaris) is a 1737 ink by Mark Catesby, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a lizard perched on a branch with bright red flowers and green leaves. The lizard has a long tail and a small head, blending into the plant’s details. The flowers are clustered in red and yellow, while the leaves vary in shades of green. This is a scientific illustration from the 1700s, meant to document nature accurately. The artist used careful coloring to highlight each part of the plant and animal. Look up Catesby, Mark to see more of his detailed natural history work.
