Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpio) by John L. Petrie, 1898

The Mirror Carp, Cyprinus carpio (1898) by John L. Petrie is a masterclass in Victorian zoological illustration—an image where science and artistry meet. Created for William C. Harris’s landmark portfolio The Fishes of North America, Petrie’s portrait was painted from life to preserve the fish’s true color and sheen before they faded. The finished plate was reproduced by chromolithography, a demanding color process that layered multiple inks to achieve lifelike depth, luster, and natural patterning.

This listing offers a museum-quality fine art print of Petrie’s carp on your choice of premium, acid-free archival paper or richly textured artist’s cotton canvas. Available in a range of sizes, each print is produced with pigment inks for long-lasting color. The Unique Maps Co. also offers framing, matting, and personalization—add a title plate, dedication, or custom sizing—so your artwork arrives ready to display.

About the artist: John L. Petrie was a late-19th-century natural history illustrator who brought acute observational skill to the ambitious projects of his day. Working alongside angling authority William C. Harris, Petrie focused on faithful form, proportion, and surface effects, helping to set a high standard for American ichthyological art at the turn of the century.

About the subject: The mirror carp is a domesticated variety of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, recognized by its patchwork of large, irregular “mirror-like” scales, thickened body, and distinctive barbels at the mouth. By the late 1800s, carp were both a scientific and cultural fascination—valued for aquaculture, frequently encountered by anglers, and widely documented as naturalists sought to catalog North American waters with modern accuracy.

Color and style: Petrie renders the fish against a softly graded ground of aquatic green, with yellow-gold highlights and warm browns that bring out the metallic bloom across the flanks. Fine, precise strokes model the fins and the subtle rise of the dorsal line, while careful shadowing lifts the specimen forward with clarity. The restrained palette—dominated by green, tempered by yellow and brown—gives the print a serene, study-ready presence that suits libraries, dens, and lakeside homes. It’s a beautiful example of realism: exacting anatomy, convincing light, and an elegant, uncluttered composition.

This print makes a thoughtful gift for anglers, natural history lovers, and anyone drawn to the quiet beauty of freshwater life—perfect for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a housewarming, or to commemorate a memorable fishing trip or cabin getaway.

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.