1737
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Ribbon Snake (Coluber saurita) is a 1737 ink by Mark Catesby, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a plant with long, oval leaves and clusters of small berries in green and red. A coiled snake with brown stripes rests on the right side, its head peeking out. The background is plain, letting the plant and snake stand out clearly. The snake’s coiled pose looks almost like a ribbon, which might be why it’s called *The Ribbon Snake*. The artist used careful shading to show the snake’s scales and the plant’s texture. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist who studied the flora and fauna of the New World.
See the richer artist page
