Gyps coprotheres (Cape vulture) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon rendered this Cape vulture in delicate strokes of watercolor and ink. It is a magnificent creature, but the vulture, across cultures, often embodies a dual nature. In ancient Egypt, the vulture goddess Nekhbet was a protector of royalty, symbolizing motherhood and divine protection. Yet, the vulture's association with carrion also links it to death and decay. This duality persists through history. In some African cultures, vultures are seen as symbols of purification, cleansing the land, while in others, they are harbingers of ill omen. This bird is part of the endless dance between life and death, creation and destruction. Gordon's vulture invites us to confront the cyclical nature of existence and the powerful, often contradictory, symbols we use to understand it.