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Courtship of the Ruff watercolor

 Collection — Folder: 1
Call Number: MS Q107

Overview

This collection consists of one watercolor painting of multiple birds called ruffs. The painting was created by M.H.A. Staring (1897-1929), a Dutch artist and ornithologist whose specialty was depicting zoological subjects.

Dates

  • Creation: 1923

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Extent

1 folder (1 oversize folder) ; Item measures 26 x 36 cm.

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

One painting depicting the courtship display of the wading bird, Kemphane or Ruff (Calidris pugnax), a member of the sandpiper family. Three male birds (Ruffs) are displaying to a female bird (Reeve). The subject was painted on paper in black ink and brown watercolor with white highlights. The artist signed and dated it in ink in the lower right corner of the painting: M. H. A. Staring 1923. The penciled note beneath the border at the left reads M.H.A. Staring f[eci]t (made it), the latter word suggesting that reproduction as an illustration may have been intended. In addition, pencil annotations on the verso include the bird’s name, Kemphanes; the artist’s signature; and the location, De Koog op Texel (the village De Koog on the Dutch island Texel).

Physical Location

MS Q107

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, estate of Ralph Nicholson Ellis, Jr., 1945.

Separated Materials

This was a loose insert removed from the volume John Guille Millais, Game birds and shooting-sketches (London L H, Sotheran, 1892), at Spencer Research Library's Ellis Aves E240.

Title
Guide to the M.H.A. Staring Collection
Subtitle
Courtship of the Ruff watercolor
Author
Finding aid prepared by eje. Finding aid encoded by eje.
Date
2023-08-17
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10407/0667852452
Preferred citation
Courtship of the Ruff watercolor, MS Q107, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334