Fish collected at Honden Island on 27 August 1839

Date1839

Object number00047875

NamePainting

MediumWatercolour on paper

DimensionsOverall: 148 x 235 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionInk and watercolour painting of fish done on the US Exploring Expedition, Honden Island, August 1839HistoryAccording to Vol. I of Wilkes' "Narrative," the four-vessel squadron (Peacock, Vincennes, Flying Fish and Porpoise) made Honden Island in the Paumotu Group on August 19, 1839. They found it uninhabited but rich in wildlife. "Sharks... were so ravenous they bit at the oars... The number of birds on the island was incredible... The various snakes, the many-coloured fish, the great eels, enormous and voracious sharks, shells, large molluscs, spiders... all gave a novelty to the scene, that highly interested and delighted us. In the afternoon we returned on board, loaded with specimens." - p. 318. Presumably, these paintings were done from those specimens, for eventual inclusion in the reports that would comprise the planned twenty-four volumes of scientific results of the U.S. Exploring Expedition. SignificanceThis painting is highly finished with exquisite detail and inscribed with descriptive notes in pencil. The volume on Ichthyology was never funded by the US Congresss due to the looming Civil War. In addition the manuscript for the publication has been lost; thus these images have never been published.