Project for Kent State MLIS Program - Cultural Heritage Informatics Fall 2019
Scaphiopus solitarius
Creation Date: 1831-1836
Creator: illustration by J. Sera (Italian, d. 1836, active in America); lithography by George Lehman (American, ca. 1803-1870) for Lehman & Duval Lithographers (American, 1834-1837).
Scaphiopus solitarius
A hand-colored lithograph of a Scaphiopus solitarius (now Scaphiopus holbrookii) specimen, commonly known as an Eastern Spadefoot toad. The illustration was originally by J. Sera and the lithograph was created and hand-painted by George Lehman of Lehman & Duval Lithographers of Philadelphia. J. Sera prided himself on a distinctive expressiveness in the subjects of his scientific illustrations, usually conveyed through their eyes. The hand-painted colors are likely taken directly from a live Eastern Spadefoot toad. The lithograph was prepared for John Edward Holbrook’s North American herpetology, or A description of the reptiles inhabiting the United States (1836).
Class: illustrations
Work Type: lithographs
Creator: illustration by J. Sera (Italian, d. 1836, active in America); lithography by George Lehman (American, ca. 1803-1870) for Lehman & Duval Lithographers (American, 1834-1837).
Creation Date: 1831-1836
Current Location: Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History (Washington, D.C., United States)
Creation Locaiton: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, United States)
Materials and Techniques: hand-colored lithograph
Inscription: signed lower center: Sera pinxt / On Stone by G. Lehman / Lehman & Duval Lith. Philada
Style: scientific illustrations
Related Work: part of Holbrook, John Edwards. North American herpetology, or, A description of the reptiles inhabiting the United States. Philadelphia, PA: Dobson, 1836.
Description: A hand-colored lithograph of a Scaphiopus solitarius (now Scaphiopus holbrookii) specimen, commonly known as an Eastern Spadefoot toad. The illustration was originally by J. Sera and the lithograph was created and hand-painted by George Lehman of Lehman & Duval Lithographers of Philadelphia. J. Sera prided himself on a distinctive expressiveness in the subjects of his scientific illustrations, usually conveyed through their eyes. The hand-painted colors are likely taken directly from a live Eastern Spadefoot toad. The lithograph was prepared for John Edward Holbrook’s North American herpetology, or A description of the reptiles inhabiting the United States (1836).
Class: illustrations
Work Type: lithographs
Subject: amphibians; herpetology; natural history
Current Location: Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History (Washington, D.C., United States)
Creation Locaiton: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, United States)
Materials and Techniques: hand-colored lithograph
Inscription: signed lower center: Sera pinxt / On Stone by G. Lehman / Lehman & Duval Lith. Philada
Style: scientific illustrations
Related Work: part of Holbrook, John Edwards. North American herpetology, or, A description of the reptiles inhabiting the United States. Philadelphia, PA: Dobson, 1836.