Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/261

Rh "The first work which brought the artist's name prominently before the scientific world was Rüppell's 'Systematische Uebersicht der Vögel Nordost Afrikas,' published in 1845, in which some fifty African birds are depicted in attitudes which contrast strongly with the stiff and unnatural positions in which previous artists were wont to portray their subjects. We look upon these illustrations as instituting the renaissance period in ornithological drawing. In 1850 appeared Temminck and Schlegel's quarto volumes on the fauna of Japan, which, with Wolf's coloured plates, still constitute one of the best illustrated works on natural history. Quickly following this came Schlegel's grand 'Traité de Fauconnerie,' in folio, with life-size portraits by Wolf of all the Hawks employed by falconers. Each one of these is a study which deserves attention.

"The late Mr. G.R. Gray's standard work, in three volumes quarto, on the 'Genera of Birds,' a copy of which cannot now be obtained under £30, was partly illustrated by Joseph Wolf, in consequence of the acceptance of a foreign appointment by the late Mr. Mitchell, the former secretary of the Zoological Society, who had been working at it jointly with Gray.

"Those who are familiar with the magnificent folio works of Gould on the 'Birds of Asia' and the 'Birds of Great Britain' will recognize in; many of the life-like coloured plates the handiwork and talent of Joseph Wolf; while the same remark will apply to Elliot's grand volumes, also in folio, on the Pheasants, Birds of Paradise, the Birds of North America, and the Felidæ or Cat family.

"More than half a century ago the Zoological Society of London, recognizing Wolf's extraordinary talent in depicting animal life, secured his services to illustrate their periodical publications, and from that time forward the 'Proceedings' and 'Transactions' of the Society have teemed with the life-like productions of his pencil. Visitors to the picture gallery over the reptile house at the Zoological Gardens can scarcely fail to have been struck with his remarkable 'Zoological Sketches,' which were produced under the auspices of the Society, and there adorn the walls. In the numerous coloured plates which have illustrated the 'Ibis' from the commencement of that quarterly journal of ornithology in 1859, we have another example of the artist's wondrous skill in the delineation of birds.

"We may pass over the many large works, both in oils and watercolour, which have passed from the easel to the private cabinets of those who know well how to appreciate them, because, although we have had the privilege of seeing many of them, the public have had no opportunity, as with the exhibited works of other artists, to judge of their merits. We may remind our readers, however, that numerous works on sport and natural history have been entirely illustrated by Joseph Wolf. Of these we may name Anderson's 'Lake Ngami,' Livingstone's 'Missionary