Gurnards with a Sea Anemone, Antique Chromolithograph by P. J. Smit, 1896

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in color, from 1896. The caption printed beneath the image reads "GURNARDS."

Two large gurnards dominate the plate above a sandy, pebbled seabed. The upper fish swims to the right, olive and gold along the back and dotted with small yellow spots, with a big round eye, a tall gray spined dorsal fin and a pale pectoral fin spread beneath the body. Below and to the right a second gurnard is drawn in strong red, its body curving up into the tail, its spiny dorsal fins raised and its broad pectoral fin opened into a fan banded in blue, green and red. A sea anemone and tufts of weed grow at the left, small shells and stones lie on the bottom, a few small pink fish swim near the top, and two more gray fish pass in the background at the right.

The plate is signed in the image at the lower right by P. J. Smit. No plate number or printer's line appears on the sheet.

The plate comes from The Royal Natural History, a popular illustrated natural history in six volumes edited by the zoologist Richard Lydekker and published in London by Frederick Warne and Co. in 1893 to 1896. The title page that accompanies these plates is dated 1896, which is the date given for this sheet.

Light uneven toning, browner towards the edges. Handling soiling along the bottom, right and top edges. A few small foxing spots in the margin. Faint water stain along the bottom edge.

This is an original antique plate, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.