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Albany's Historic Whaling Station > Records

PAINTING - CALIFORNIAN SEA LION

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Richard Ellis

c. 1985

Subcollections

Richard Ellis Collection

Overview

Painting of 2 grey brown sea lions. The Larger sea lion has a crested forehead and broad front flippers, gouache on blue card, framed and mounted with inscription (70).

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

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-128-RE1999.358

Item type

Themes

Material

Width

410 mm

Height or length

440 mm

Depth

15 mm

Weight

1.52 kg

Inscriptions and markings

CALIFORNIA SEA LION (Zalophus californianus)

Although it is often called a "trained seal" in circuses, this familiar animal is a true sea lion, with visible ears and hind limbs that can be moved forward. While native to California, it is also found in the Galapagos and Japan. Males are much larger and heavier than females; males reach a maximum weight of 600 pounds, and develop a prominent "sagittal crest" or forehead.
78.

Verso: Smithsonian label checklist # 78 Packing case # 5, 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

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Smithsonian Institution

Place made

United States

Year

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

Copyright and Reference

Copyright and Reference

Copyright category

Other

Permissions

Reproduction or publication with Albany’s Historic Whaling Station permission only.

Copyright holder

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

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Painting of 2 grey brown sea lions. The Larger sea lion has a crested forehead and broad front flippers, on blue card with inscription.

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