Albany's Historic Whaling Station > Records

PAINTINGS - (a) CARIBBEAN MONK SEAL (b) HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL

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Richard Ellis

c. 1975

Subcollections

Overview

2 paintings in single framed work (a) CARIBBEAN MONK SEAL - robust bodied, greyish-brown colored, with rounded head broad muzzle, wide-set eyes, and short fore-flippers (93) (b) HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL- Family of monk seals, dark grey colored adult male and pup, paler colored female, broad muzzled heads, and short front flippers (94) ; gouache on blue card, framed and mounted with inscription

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.

Marks: (on verso Smithsonian label checklist # 92,93,94, Packing case # 1) No marks on verso (prints have been reframed- 2 into one frame and one into another.) Now no marks on verso One print is now RE1999 450

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-128-RE1999.383a,b

Item type

Themes

Material

Width

810 mm

Height or length

440 mm

Depth

15 mm

Inscriptions and markings

CARIBBEAN MONK SEAL (Monachus tropicalis)
First described by Columbus in 1494, this seal was known from various Caribbean island, the Antilles, the Bahamas and even the Florida Keys. Since the last documented sighting took place in 1952 off Jamacia, the species is now thought to be totally extinct - displaced and hunted by men since the discovery of these islands.
93.

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL (Monachus schauinslandi)
Found primarily in the Leeward Islands, these animals occasionally stray to the main Hawaiian group. They were undisturbed until World War II, when American forces occupied Laysan and Midway. As of a 1978 survey, there were less than 700 of these animals on all the islands. They are fully protected now, but they seem to be particularly susceptible to predation by tiger sharks. Of all the monk seals, this species is the best known because it has been studied in its native habitat, and successfully maintained in captivity, particularly at the Waikiki Aquarium.
94.

(on verso Smithsonian label checklist # 92,93,94, Packing case # 1) No marks on verso (prints have been reframed- 2 into one frame and one into another.) Now no marks on verso One print is now RE1999 450

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

Smithsonian Institution

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Marine Mammals

Place made

United States

Year

c. 1975

Primary significance criteria