NATURAL HISTORY DRAWINGS OF MALAYA: THE COMPLETE FARQUHAR CO

Colonel William Farquhar was British Resident and Commandant of Malacca from 1803 to 1818, during which time he sent his men to collect various plant and animal specimens, which he then commissioned artists to paint. Covering a wide spectrum of flora and fauna, the evocative paintings were rendered in brilliant watercolour by Chinese artists who employed both Chinese and Western painting techniques. In an era when photography was non-existent, the only means of recording nature and wildlife was through painting. Whereas the original collection of drawings ran to eight volumes, this book brings together for the first time all 477 natural history drawings in a single book. Accompanied by authoritative essays and detailed captions, this book is a valuable addition to the art or nature lover's library. It showcases some fascinating wildlife still present in the region today and is also an important record of species that have been lost or are diminished in number.