Around 1900, Benedito Calixto studied seagulls and albatrosses in flight.

• Naturalist drawing by Benedito Calixto, in pencil.
• A leaf, a page.
• 27.5 cm x 20.5 cm.
• In French.
• In good condition.
• One-of-a-kind.

This pencil drawing presents various studies of seabirds in flight, probably seagulls and an albatross, identified by the handwritten inscription in the lower left: "Gull Albatross". In the center, a large bird with open wings stands out, carefully shaded to give volume, surrounded by other smaller figures in different positions and angles, suggesting movement and direct observation of nature. In the lower right margin, another annotation can be read, which is difficult to decipher, but which seems to refer to a scientific or naturalist source. Due to the technique and the nature of the preparatory study, the sheet can be dated between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period in which Calixto intensely developed his work of observation and documentation of the São Paulo coast.

Benedito Calixto (1853-1927) is a central figure in Brazilian painting, recognized above all for his marine landscapes, urban views, portraits, and historical scenes that sought to reconstruct the colonial and imperial memory of Brazil. A self-taught artist, he built a solid career, receiving public and religious commissions, and collaborated with cultural institutions. His work reflects both artistic sensibility and documentary concern, uniting the eye of a painter and the rigor of a visual researcher.

This drawing is rare because it differs from Calixto's known final compositions: it is a naturalistic study, more intimate and spontaneous, revealing his creative process and his interest in faithfully recording the maritime environment. The importance of the sheet lies precisely in offering an authentic testimony of the artist's working method, completing the understanding of his production and enhancing his facet as an observer of nature, in addition to being a historical painter.