Albany's Historic Whaling Station > Records

PAINTING - CALIFORNIAN SEA LION

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
Artworks
Themes
Art and Design
Nature
Material
Card
Gouache
Metal
Paper
Perspex
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
Richard Ellis
Albany's Historic Whaling Station
Smithsonian Institution
Marine Mammals
Place made
United States
Year
c. 1985
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 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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