Many of the birds found in the portfolio would have been highly recognizable to John Drayton (1715–1779) as he became one of the most profitable planters in colonial South Carolina.
Bobolink
George Edwards, England, 1733
Watercolor on paper
Lenhardt Collection of George Edwards Watercolors at Drayton Hall
Rice became the leading exported crop out of the South Carolina colony in the 18th century, so much so that it became known as “Carolina Gold.” The depiction of North American birds eating rice speaks to the larger trans-Atlantic trade of enslaved individuals whose knowledge brought from Africa enabled 18th century plantation owners to profit exponentially from their expertise. The Bobolink became known as the “rice bird” as flocks of Bobolinks would descend on the fields of rice to eat the crops. The Bobolink depicted here is a nonbreeding male in his fall plumage; the addition of the branch of acorns helps place the bird in its proper season. This painting was previously misidentified as an American Goldfinch.
There are eleven birds that appear twice within the portfolio; in most of these cases, the birds were painted in either their mature and immature state or their male and female forms. Note the difference in the coloration of the wings between the two Red-winged Blackbirds as well as the rice stalk painted both in its green and golden states.
Red-winged Blackbird (breeding male)
George Edwards England, 1733
Watercolor on paper
Lenhardt Collection of George Edwards Watercolors at Drayton Hall
Red-winged Blackbird (nonbreeding male)
George Edwards England, 1733
Watercolor on paper
Courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
This is part of a special online exhibit titled, Flights of Fancy: An Exploration of Uncommon Birds. To view more please visit:
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