Albany's Historic Whaling Station > Records

PAINTINGS - (a)PYGMY SPERM WHALE (b)DWARF SPERM WHALE

« Prev Item Next Item »

Richard Ellis

c. 1975

Subcollections

Overview

2 paintings in single framed work (a) Pygmy sperm whale - robust, dark bluish-grey with lighter grey underbelly, small, curved dorsal fin, and distinct "shark-like" head with underslung lower jaw. (57.) (b) Dwarf sperm whale - mottled dark grey with lighter grey underbelly, blunt, square head with small, underslung lower jaw and bracket mark behind eye, prominent dorsal fin toward tail (58.); 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.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-128-RE1999.325a,b

Item type

Material

Width

440 mm

Height or length

890 mm

Depth

15 mm

Inscriptions and markings

PYGMY SPERM WHALE (Koqiq breviceps)
The pygmy sperm and the dwarf sperm are two rare, small whales believed to be closely related to the giant sperm whale. These are the only other cetaceans with a single off-center blow hole and a single nasal passage. The pygmy has a short, stubby dorsal fin, while its smaller relative, the dwarf, has a higher, curved fin that has been described as more "dolphin-like"
57.

DWARF SPERM WHALE (Kogia simus)
Simus is Latin for "snub-nosed," and accurately describes this little whale. It is very similar to the pygmy sperm whale, but grows no larger than 8½ feet, while the pygmy can reach 13 feet. Both species have undershot lower jaws and tiny, "python-like" teeth. Both the dwarf and the pygmy have mysterious "bracket marks" behind the head, which look very much like gills. They serve no known purpose.
58.

Verso: Smithsonian label checklist # 57,58 Packing case # 2, 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