Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Work on Paper

-

The Union Club of British Columbia

William Glen Smith, artist, ca. 1965: From B.C. Dept. of Recreation and Conservation, William Glen Smith, Chief of Wildlife Management, ca. 1965. Note: Image of Merganser to be added
William Glen Smith, artist, ca. 1965

From B.C. Dept. of Recreation and Conservation, William Glen Smith, Chief of Wildlife Management, ca. 1965. Note: Image of Merganser to be added

Name/Title

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Entry/Object ID

2017.05.12

Description

Drawing This image is a study of a male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). The bird is striking in appearance; both sexes have crests that they can raise or lower. Like other Mergansers, it is an aquatic diving predator and with its narrow serrate bill, specializes in eating fish. Hooded Mergansers are the second smallest species of Merganser, and it also is the only Merganser whose native habitat is restricted to North America.

Artwork Details

Medium

Graphite on paper

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

William Glen Smith (1923-1993)

Role

Artist

Date made

1980

Time Period

20th Century

Notes

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Born in Baldur, Manitoba, William Glenn Smith was a Canadian wildlife biologist and accomplished bird artist. He played an important role in shaping the early foundation on which wildlife and non-game management and protection developed in B.C. He served in the Canadian Army in World War II. After his BA degree, he completed two years work on a Master’s degree before accepting a job with the B.C. Game Commission as a regional game biologist for the Kootenay-Boundary District of southeastern B.C. He later took a promotion first as Assistant Chief of Wildlife Management with the provincial Fish and Wildlife Branch in Victoria and later as Chief. Smith started painting at an early age, probably influenced by his father and later his brother who both painted. Smith painted in watercolour and acrylic as well as hard pencil pastel. He had great photographic recall, and having seen a bird in the field he could later paint it in detail, although he did at times use museum specimens and published illustrations. He retired from government to go into wildlife consulting and to devote more time to his painting.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Signature, Date

Location

Titled, signed and dated centre left: Hooded Merganser GS/80

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Support

Height

22.9 cm

Width

17.8 cm

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Date

Nov 23, 2017

Notes

Purchased Kilshaws Lot #55 $160.00 for 2017.05.01 and 2017.05.12, 2@$80.00.

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

By William Glen Smith: 2017.05.01 Barn Owl (Tyto Alba) 2017.05.12 Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 2018.09.02a Hawk I 2018.09.02b Hawk II

Web Links and URLs

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Hooded Merganser