White or Silver Bass (Roccus chrysops) by John L. Petrie, 1898

The White or Silver Bass, Roccus chrysops (1898) by John L. Petrie is a refined Victorian zoological illustration created for the ambitious late‑19th‑century series The Fishes of North America. Working alongside editor and author William C. Harris, Petrie pursued a firsthand, naturalist approach—studying living specimens so their fleeting iridescence and true coloration could be captured before fading. Originally issued as a chromolithograph, this plate exemplifies the era’s union of scientific precision and fine artistry, rendered with careful modeling, delicate tonal transitions, and a quietly elegant, reference‑book presentation.

This offering is a high‑quality fine art print produced by The Unique Maps Co., available on museum‑grade, acid‑free archival paper or on artist’s cotton canvas. Choose from a range of sizes and our curated framing options—classic black, crisp white, and natural wood—each with conservation‑grade materials. We also offer tasteful personalization, including custom captions, dedication lines, and layout adjustments (with or without a plate‑style border), so your piece arrives ready to hang and perfectly suited to your space.

About the artist: John L. Petrie was a skilled American illustrator of the late 1800s known for his sensitive, accurate observations of fish anatomy and color. His collaboration on The Fishes of North America helped set a high benchmark for natural history art in the United States, drawing on field observation to achieve a level of verisimilitude rarely seen in earlier ichthyological plates. Petrie’s hand is evident in the sleek contouring of the body, the crisp delineation of fin rays, and the nuanced, pearly sheen across the scales.

About the subject: Titled The White or Silver Bass, Roccus chrysops, this plate honors a classic North American game fish whose streamlined profile, firm dorsal spines, and pronounced lateral line are all rendered with scientific clarity. The project’s goal—observing fresh, living fish—allowed Petrie to depict not just anatomy but the species’ characteristic lustre and markings, a practice that helped broaden public awareness of native aquatic life at a time of intense interest in natural history.

Color, style, and why to own it: The composition balances a serene, natural palette with moments of vivid detail. A dominant wash of warm yellow lends the fish a sunlit, metallic glow, deepening into olive‑green along the back and anchored by soft brown undertones at the fins and shadows. Subtle glints of cooler tones enliven the gill plate and scale rows, while smooth, refined strokes reveal minute textural shifts from head to tail. The result is a timeless blend of science and art—equally at home in a study, library, lake house, or contemporary gallery wall, and a superb companion to other Victorian naturalist prints.

This elegant print makes a thoughtful gift for anglers, naturalists, and lovers of American sporting heritage. It’s ideal for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, graduations, housewarmings, or to welcome someone home from a fishing trip or travels to lakes and rivers where the white or silver bass is found.

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.