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PAINTING -PYGMY KILLER WHALE

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Richard Ellis

c. 1975

Subcollections

Overview

Painting of grey whale with white lips, white underbelly marking & large dorsal fin, gouache on blue card, framed and mounted with inscription (32).

Historical information

Collection of 106 of paintings by Richard Ellis that were selected by the Smithsonian Institution to form a traveling exhibit of the marine mammals of the world. The collection was purchased by Perth businessman Kevin Parry in 1985 and donated to Whale World, now known as Albany's Historic Whaling Station.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-128-RE1999.327

Item type

Themes

Material

Width

410 mm

Height or length

440 mm

Depth

15 mm

Weight

1.52 kg

Inscriptions and markings

PYGMY KILLER WHALE (Feresa attenuata)
Although the common name of this species is derived from the shape of the skull and teeth, this little dolphin may in fact be more fierce and aggressive than its larger namesake. In captivity the pygmy killer has been known to attack and kill other dolphins in its tank, and it is probably the most aggressive dolphin toward humans when in captivity. (In the wild, however, no such inclinations have been demonstrated on the rare occasion when swimmers have encountered wild pygmy killers). Far from common, the species has been recorded from most all of the temperate and tropical waters.
32.

Verso: Smithsonian label checklist # 32 Packing case # 3, AWHS accession number

Contextual information

The paintings represent a body of work by well-known American marine conservationist, author, artist and natural historian Richard Ellis (1938-2024).

Keywords

Richard Ellis

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Smithsonian Institution

Marine Mammals

Place made

United States

Year

c. 1975

Statement of significance

Rarity:106 of these paintings were selected by the Smithsonian Institution to form a traveling exhibit of the marine mammals of the world. All these paintings were bought by Kevin Parry and donated to Whale World

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Scientific or research significance

Comparative significance criteria

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Last modified

Wednesday, 15 October, 2025

Completeness

100

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