Natural History Drawings: The Complete William Farquhar Collection: Malay Peninsula 1803-1818
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2010
ISBN: 9789814217699

This book brings together for the first time all 477 pieces in William Farquhar's extensive collection of natural history drawings, commissioned during his service as the British Resident and Commandant of Melaka from 1803 to 1818. Farquhar had a deep interest in the flora and fauna of the region, and made several important zoological and botanical discoveries. In an era when photography was non-existent, the only means of recording nature and wildlife was through painting. The Chinese artists that Farquhar commissioned employed traditional Chinese brush techniques while attempting to show the perspective and naturalism that Western painting demanded, resulting in works that are a charming mix of two different art traditions.

Authoritative essays on Farquhar and the background of the drawings, and detailed captions that examine the context of each watercolour bring the collection - and the hundreds of species depicted - to life. Natural History Drawings: The Complete William Farquhar Collection, Malay Peninsula 1803-1818, is a colourful tour of the plants and animals present in the Malay Peninsula during Farquhar's time. It not only showcases some of the most fascinating wildlife still present in the region today, but is also an important record of the species that have been lost or are diminished in number, making it a valuable addition to the nature lover's library, and indispensable to those with a serious interest in the natural history of the region.