1737
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Guana (Lacerta Iguana) 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 a round fruit underneath. The lizard’s body is detailed with scales, and its tail curls around the branch. Large green leaves with visible veins surround the scene, and a small seed lies on the ground. The artist used careful shading to show texture, especially on the lizard’s skin and the fruit. This kind of detailed natural study was common in early scientific illustrations. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Catesby created precise lines with acid and metal plates.
Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist who studied the flora and fauna of the New World.
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