Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) by John L. Petrie, 1898

John L. Petrie’s The Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (1898) is a luminous Victorian zoological illustration from the celebrated series The Fishes of North America. Working in close collaboration with editor and angling author William C. Harris, Petrie pursued scientific accuracy with painterly finesse during a period when natural history and fine printing converged. Known for painting freshly caught specimens in oils to capture their fleeting iridescence, Petrie translated these observations into chromolithography, yielding a plate that is both faithful to nature and visually sumptuous.

Offered here as a high-quality fine art print, your choice of acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas preserves the crisp linework and the velvety depth of Petrie’s color. Multiple sizes are available, with optional framing to suit traditional, coastal, or contemporary interiors. The Unique Maps Co. can personalize your print—add a discreet caption, dedication, or date—and can advise on custom sizes or matting to make this piece uniquely yours.

About the artist: John L. Petrie was an accomplished late-19th-century illustrator whose work bridged field observation and studio craft. His contributions to The Fishes of North America demonstrated a rare fusion of scientific discipline and aesthetic judgment. In partnership with Harris, Petrie helped set a standard for ichthyological illustration at a moment when chromolithography allowed complex, layered color to be reproduced reliably and in fine detail.

About the subject: The bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix—an iconic game fish of the Atlantic—was prized by anglers and naturalists alike for its speed, strength, and schooling behavior. This plate embodies the era’s fascination with cataloging native species, blending the didactic clarity of scientific illustration with the visual appeal of a collector’s print. As part of a major compendium, it represents the expansion of natural history as both a public education enterprise and an art form.

Color, style, and design: Rendered in a realist style, the fish’s streamlined profile is articulated with fine-scaled patterning and cleanly modeled fins. A quiet, understated background throws the specimen into focus, while a palette of green-gray with subtle brown and yellow undertones evokes waterborne light and the warm tone of period paper. The controlled highlights along the flank suggest the slick sheen of living skin, giving the image a convincing three-dimensionality that reads beautifully at both intimate and statement scales—a compelling reason to own a print that marries accuracy and charm.

This print makes a thoughtful gift for anglers, marine biologists, and lovers of coastal décor—perfect for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a beach-house warming, or to welcome home someone just back from a memorable Atlantic fishing trip.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 36x20in (90x50cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.