Lot 65: Edward Adrian Wilson (1872-1912)

Edward Adrian Wilson (1872-1912)
The Emperor Penguin Rookery, Cape Crozier
signed 'E A Wilson' (lower left)
watercolour on paper
10 x 15in. (25.4 x 38.1cm.)

Mrs. Edward Wilson (Oriana Souper) and thence by descent to her great- niece, the present owner.

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.
Skelton had discovered the Emperor penguins' rookery at Cape Crozier in October 1902 and Wilson made his first two sledging journeys to the rookery for the purpose of 'filling in the gaps in our knowledge of the birds life-history' in September and October 1903. His study of the breeding habits of the penguins was published in the second volume (Zoology) of the expeditions scientific results, and a summary of the two visits appears in Appendix II of Scott's The Voyage of the 'Discovery'. Wilson made numerous sketches of the rookery at Cape Crozier in 1903, including a pencil study of the same scene ('The Great Ice Barrier, a view looking East from Cape Crozier'), and variants now in the collection of the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge.