Plate 109: Various Beasts, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 109 of 'A New Book of Chinese Designs', consisting of a title page, index, and 120 plates, etched and published in 1754 by the British caricaturist, printseller and ornamental engraver Matthew Darly, in collaboration with George Edwards. The book consists of a variety of ornamental and costume designs of Chinese inspiration, some of them copies of the original works (including the title).
This plate represents various orientalist beasts. On the upper part of the sheet is a beast with spiked ears and open mouth with scrolling tusks, four legs with claws, and a wide tail with spikes and long hair, and another two-legged beast with claws and a reptile tail, wings with long feathers, pointed ears, and open mouth with thick whiskers below it. In the center is a dragon with open mouth and long tongue, wings, eagle claws, and scaled tail. On the lower part of the sheet are a four-legged beast with claws, feather-shaped tail, small, pointed ears and three large tusks on the upper part of her head; on the right is a sort of dog with large claws and spikes on the tail.
