Unspotted Mascalonge of Wisconsin (Lucius masquinongy) by John L. Petrie, 1898

The Unspotted Mascalonge of Wisconsin, Lucius masquinongy (1898) by John L. Petrie is a poised, luminous study of the muskellunge rendered with Victorian naturalist precision. Created for William C. Harris’s landmark publication The Fishes of North America, this chromolithograph embodies the late-19th-century shift toward lifelike, scientifically grounded wildlife portraits. Petrie’s careful observation—made from fresh specimens so color and sheen could be captured before fading—results in an image that balances artful polish with zoological exactitude.

This listing offers a museum-quality fine art print produced by The Unique Maps Co., available on acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. Choose from a range of sizes, with optional hand-finished framing and conservation matting. Personalization is welcome—add a dedication line, a custom title plate, or adjust borders and tones to suit your space. Each print is color-checked for fidelity to the character of the original chromolithograph.

About the artist: John L. Petrie was a gifted American illustrator active in the late 19th century, known for bringing scientific clarity to subjects prized by both naturalists and sportsmen. Working closely with editor-publisher William C. Harris, Petrie harnessed the layered color capabilities of chromolithography to recreate the iridescence and surface textures of freshly caught fish—an approach that set a high standard for realism in Victorian zoological illustration.

About the subject: The plate features the muskellunge—then labeled Lucius masquinongy and today typically classified as Esox masquinongy—an iconic apex predator of northern lakes and rivers, especially in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. The “unspotted” form depicted here reflects the period’s attentiveness to regional and morphological variation, aligning with the era’s growing enthusiasm for cataloging North American fauna and its habitats.

Why this print stands out: Petrie orchestrates a refined palette of green, gray, and beige against a subtle gradient wash, allowing the streamlined body, translucent fins, and gleaming scales to read with sculptural clarity. Smooth, precise strokes and judicious use of light and shadow create convincing volume without sacrificing anatomical detail. The natural striping and gentle mottling on the body feel alive yet measured—perfect for a study, library, lake house, or contemporary interior that favors quiet, nature-informed refinement.

A thoughtful and enduring gift, this fine art print will delight anglers, ichthyologists, conservation-minded friends, and anyone with ties to Wisconsin or the Great Lakes. It’s an elegant choice for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, housewarmings, retirements, or to welcome home someone who has recently returned from a memorable fishing trip up north.

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.