Peter Markham Scott (1909-1989)
Mallards Leaving at Dawn, 1945
signed "Peter Scott" lower right
oil on board, 7 by 10 in.
titled on Rowland Ward, London label and 1945 exhibition label on back

Sir Peter Scott was described by David Attenborough as the “patron saint” of conservation in the UK. He founded the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, co-founded the World Wildlife Fund, and designed its iconic panda logo. As the son of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Peter continued in his father’s footsteps by conducting an expedition to Iceland in search of the breeding ground of the pink-footed goose. In 1975 Scott gave a scientific name to the Loch Ness Monster so it could be registered as an endangered species; the name turned out to be an anagram of “Monster Hoax by Sir Peter S.” He was the host of a BBC television series on natural history, and wrote and illustrated many books on birds and other subjects. He won a bronze medal in sailing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In addition to these many pursuits, Sir Peter Scott had his first art exhibition in London in 1933 and continued to paint throughout his life.

Provenance: William K. du Pont Collection

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