STONE, Sarah (1761-1844)
Sparrow Hawk
London: (ca. 1777-1806). Watercolour on laid paper. Signed "Sarah Stone," lower left corner. Inscribed "Sparrow Hawk" in Stone's hand, lower right corner. Annotated, "La. Syn. 1 p.99...Falco nisus, Lin." along the top edge. Sheet size: 10 x 11 5/8 inches.
Sarah Stone was a prolific natural history painter who was active in London from 1777 to 1806, known for her exquisite brushwork, adept use of color, and mastery across a diverse array of subjects. Her primary patron was Sir Ashton Lever, for whom she diligently documented an extensive collection of ornithological, zoological, and ethnographical specimens. Ornithological subjects held a special place in Stone's oeuvre, constituting the majority of her known works, with her initial studies dating back to 1777 when she was just seventeen. Stone's meticulous attention to detail is evident in her preference for sized paper, an unconventional practice in British painting at the time, and her use of exceptionally fine brush strokes, sometimes employing brushes with only one or two hairs for the lightest feathers. Her association with the Leverian Museum, which changed ownership in 1786, persisted through the 1780s under James Parkinson. Stone's reputation soared, leading to her pivotal role in illustrating John White's Journal of a Voyage to NSW (1790), establishing her as one of the era's premier natural history painters. Despite limited records after her marriage in 1789, evidence suggests that Stone continued to contribute to prestigious projects, including bespoke artworks for affluent private collectors. Her work is celebrated today for its grace, precision, and significant contributions to the understanding of 18th-century natural history. The contemporary notations on Stone's ornithological drawings contain important information about each subject. The annotations, in many cases, include a citation corresponding to the volume and page number in John Latham's General Synopsis (published between 1781 and 1785) as well as a citation in Latin, corresponding to the subject's Linnaean classification at the time. The present image of the "Sparrow Hawk" bears the annotation "La. Syn. 1 p.99...Falco nisus." The species, now also known as the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, is widespread throughout the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World. It is is a major predator of smaller woodland birds, hunting by surprise attacks; Latham dramatically notes, "It is a bold bird, well known, and will commit its depredations in the most daring manner, even before one's face." The Eurasian sparrowhawk has been used in falconry for centuries though they are known for being difficult to train. In Slavic mythology, the sparrowhawk, known as krahui or krahug, is a sacred bird in Old Bohemian songs and lives in a grove of the gods. In some areas of England, it was believed that the common cuckoo turned into a Eurasian sparrowhawk in winter. The bird's presence in Western culture continued as it also appears in modern literature, notably as the subject of Ted Hughes' poem entitled "A Sparrow-Hawk," with Hermann Hesse also mentioning the bird in his book Demian.
Christine E. Jackson Dictionary of Bird Painters (Woodbridge: 1999); Christine E. Jackson Sarah Stone Natural Curiosities from the New Worlds (London, 1998).
Item #40592
Price: $16,500.00