A great auk for the Sun King. Issue 1 (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Lozoya, Arturo Valledor; García, David González; Parish, Jolyon
• Is Part Of: Archives of natural history. Volume 43:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Pinguinus impennis -- Nicolas Robert -- Versailles menagerie -- Les vélins du Roi; Natural history -- History -- Periodicals; 508.09005
• DOI: 10.3366/anh.2016.0345
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-9541

Abstract

Abstract : This paper describes two watercolours and one engraving of the great auk ( Pinguinus impennis ) executed by the French painter Nicolas Robert probably between 1666 and 1670. Despite their interest as early images of this extinct species and the first ones rendered in colour, they have not been mentioned in the literature. The images suggest that the bird was kept alive in the menagerie at the palace in Versailles, where Robert portrayed it for Louis XIV; Robert's paintings are collectively known as "Les vélins du Roi".