Artist Unknown (anonymous Chinese artist).
Title
English: Boorong Antoo; Owl.
Description
English: A watercolour drawing of the oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius; known in Malay as the burung hantu ("ghost bird")), perched on an angsana tree (Pterocarpus indicus). The illustration of the owl is highly idealized, as each feather is shown in place and separated from the others. In addition, the artist has added a "hood" over the owl's face that is absent in nature. The drawing is one of 477 natural history drawings of plants and animals of Malacca and Singapore commissioned by William Farquhar.
Date between 1819 and 1823.
Medium watercolor on paper.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boorong_Antoo;_Owl_(William_Farquhar_Collection,_1819%E2%80%931823).jpg
The oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius) is a type of bay owl, usually classified with barn owls. It is completely nocturnal, and can be found throughout Southeast Asia. It has a heart-shaped face with earlike extensions. |