Saltwater Fish Illustrations - Red Snapper

This plate depicts a Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), rendered in careful lateral profile against a warm sage-green watercolor wash. The specimen — an 18 lb. catch taken off Venice in the Gulf of Mexico — is illustrated with the steeply sloped forehead, pointed snout, and deeply forked tail that distinguish the species. The coloration moves from vivid coral-red along the dorsal surface through rosy pink flanks to a pale cream belly, with each scale rendered in precise, overlapping detail that captures the fish's characteristic sheen.

Published by Armstrong & Co. at The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, this plate belongs to a body of American ichthyological illustration that combined scientific accuracy with a practiced artistic hand. The spined dorsal fin, pectoral fins, and slightly open jaw are all rendered with the observational rigor that defined the finest natural history printing of the era. The scientific name appears in italic beneath the common name, consistent with the taxonomic conventions of the source publication.

This print is part of a broader series documenting Gulf of Mexico sport and food fish, including Gag Grouper, Sheepshead, Cobia, and others — all available individually or as curated sets.