Macropus Bennettii, Lizars engraving. Macropus rufogriseus antique print c1841.

by Lizars, William Home

Lizars' Bennett's Kangaroo, Bennett's Wallaby or Red-necked Wallaby.

Original hand-coloured steel engraving by William Home Lizars (1788-1859) for Marsupialia or Pouched Animals by George Robert Waterhouse (1789-1856). The small engraved nature portrait was accentuated by hand-colouing of the animal only, leaving the engraved background habitat uncoloured. Published in Edinburgh circa 1841 for The Naturalist’s Library 'Mammalia' by Scottish naturalist, Sir Willliam Jardine (1800-1874). Between 1833 and 1843, from drawings by leading naturalists, Lizars engraved between 30 and 40 plates for each of the 40 subjects of fauna for Jardine's Naturalist's Library.

William studied at the Trustees’ Academy from 1804 to 1808, and exhibited portraits and genre at the Edinburgh Academy until his father, Daniel Lizars died. William then assumed responsibility for his father’s Edinburgh printing and publishing business, which he considerably expanded. William’s engraving skill was recognized by John James Audubon for whom he was doing large bird engravings when Sir William Jardine commissioned him to engrave and publish the 40 small books for The Naturalist's Library. Lizars was elected an Associate Engraver of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1827.

Page size 105 x 170mm (4 1/8 x 6 5/8 inches).