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, glossy leaves and clusters of small red berries. A snake is coiled around the stem, its head peeking out. The colors are soft greens, deep reds, and muted browns. The snake is labeled *Anguis R.c.* and the plant *Calycullato R.c.* in the corners. This was likely made to document nature in detail. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Catesby created these precise lines.
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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