Edited by Kees Rookmaaker
Clara the Rhinoceros tells the marvellous story of the most famous rhinoceros in history.
Clara or the Dutch Rhinoceros was exhibited by her owner Captain Douwe Mout van der Meer throughout Europe, from her arrival in 1741 to her death in 1758. Viewed by thousands, her life was long forgotten, but has been brought alive again from research starting in the 1970s. These pages pay tribute to her life, providing information where she was shown, who saw her, how she increasingly altered the understanding of her species in the eighteenth century.
Research into the travels of the rhinoceros Clara in 18th century Europe requires extensive linguistic skills. Documents and newspapers were written by visitors and naturalists throughout the countries visited, using Latin, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Polish and English. All sources are here presented in the original languages, often followed by the same text in “Translate” – which is in most cases generated through Google Translate service. As the originals were in old versions of the languages, accuracy is not guaranteed, but it gives a good idea of the contents. Some longer texts remain in the original only.
Do you have information about Clara?
Please send comments and additions to the editor for regular updates in the documentation of the life of Clara, the Dutch Rhinoceros, exhibited throughout Europe 1741 to 1758.
General sources about the travels of Clara:
Clarke, T.H. 1974. The iconography of the rhinoceros, part II. The Leyden Rhinoceros. Connoisseur 1974 February: 113-122, figs. 1-23.
Clarke, T.H. 1986. The rhinoceros from Dürer to Stubbs 1515-1799. London, Sotheby’s Publications. pp. 1-219.
Faust, I. 2003. Zoologische Einblattdrucke und Flugschriften vor 1800, vol. 5: Unpaarhufer (Nashorner, Tapire, Pferdeartige), Sammelblatter, Monster, Generalregister zu Band I-V. Stuttgart, Anton Hiersemann. pp. i-vii, 1-383.
Ham, G. van der 2022. Clara de neushoorn. Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum. pp. 1-208 (paperback, ISBN 9789462087460).
Ham, G. van der 2022. Clara the rhinoceros: wonderbeast, sensation, muse. Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum. pp. 1-208 (paperback, ISBN 9789462087477).
Heikamp, D. 1980. Seltene Nashörner in Martin Sperlichs Nashorngalerie und anderswo. In: Schloesser, Gaerten, Berlin: Festschrift fur Martin Sperlich zum 60. Geburtstag 1979. Tuebingen, Ernst Wasmuth (Technische Universitat Berlin, Kunstwissenschaftliche Schriften, Band 1). pp. 301-325, figs. 1-26
Ridley, G. 2004. Clara’s grand tour: travels with a rhinoceros in eighteenth-century Europe. London, Atlantic Books. pp.i-xvii, 1-222.
Rookmaaker, L.C. 1973. Captive rhinoceroses in Europe from 1500 until 1810. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, Amsterdam 43 (1): 39-63, figs. 1-13.
Rookmaaker, L.C. 1998. The rhinoceros in captivity: a list of 2439 rhinoceroses kept from Roman times to 1994. The Hague, SPB Academic Publishing bv. pp. i-vi, 1-409, 1 pl, figs. 1-166, tables 1-41.
Verhey, I. 1992. Op reis met Clara: de geschiedenis van een bezienswaardige neushoorn. Rotterdam, Natuurmuseum. pp. 1-56, figs. 1-19.
