The Rhinoceros “Miss Clara”, drawn by Johann Elias Ridinger (1698-1767) in 1748. black chalk on blue laid paper, 28.6 x 43.8 cm. National Gallery of Art, Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons’ Permanent Fund, 2007.111.29. Inscription by the artist at bottom right in brown ink: Anno 1748 den 12. Junii habe ich disen/Rhinoceros allhier in Augspurg nach/dem Leben gezeichnet. Seine Grösse war/in der Höhe 6. Schü die Länge 12 Schü,/von Farbe ist er meist Castanien braun/unten am Bauch und in der tieffe/seiner falten Leib od Fleisch farbe gewesen/J.E. Ridinger/hatt ihn von 6. Seiten gezeichnet [On June 12, 1748, I drew this rhinoceros from life here in Augsburg. It was six feet tall and twelve feet long, it was mostly chestnut brown, but on its belly and in the folds of its skin flesh color. J. E. Ridinger drew it from six angles).
