Goldfinny, Labrus Cornubiensis
1803
Edward Donovan’s 1803 illustration of the "Goldfinny" (now known as the Corkwing Wrasse) captures the creature's vibrant, almost iridescent scales in stunning detail. Notice the striking red and green spiky dorsal fin and the fish's comically wide-open mouth, giving it a surprisingly expressive personality for a scientific study. Created during a boom in natural history publishing, these beautifully hand-colored plates helped everyday people marvel at the colorful marine life of the British Isles long before underwater photography existed.