Rainbow Trout (Salmo irideus) by John L. Petrie, 1898

John L. Petrie’s The Rainbow Trout, Salmo irideus (1898) captures a prized North American game fish at the height of Victorian naturalism. Created for the celebrated late‑19th‑century series The Fishes of North America, this chromolithograph unites scientific precision with painterly finesse. Petrie portrays the trout with poised realism: a streamlined body suspended against a subdued, cream-toned ground, every speckle and fin ray carefully observed to support both identification and admiration.

Our edition is a high-quality fine art print produced on your choice of acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. Available in a range of sizes from intimate to statement-making, it can be ordered unframed or expertly framed to gallery standards. The Unique Maps Co. also offers personalization—add a custom caption, inscription, or date—and can tailor sizing and framing finishes to suit your interior.

About the artist: John L. Petrie was an accomplished 19th-century natural history illustrator whose work exemplifies the era’s devotion to field accuracy translated through refined printmaking. Working from fresh, live specimens to capture color before it faded, Petrie collaborated with skilled printers to translate his studies into multi-stone chromolithographs with remarkable depth and subtlety. His plates stand alongside the period’s finest examples of scientific art made to educate, delight, and endure.

About the subject: The rainbow trout—historically titled Salmo irideus and known today as Oncorhynchus mykiss—holds a special place in both ichthyology and angling culture. Petrie’s 1898 plate reflects a moment when American wildlife was being systematically cataloged, and the most admired species were documented with almost portrait-like dignity. It is both a record of a fish and a record of an idea: that nature’s beauty is worthy of careful, artistic study.

Color and design: A tranquil, light background enhances the fish’s iridescent display—sunlit yellow-gold along the flanks, a gentle orange-rose blush near the gill cover and lateral line, and a cool green-olive cast across the back. Fine, peppered spotting punctuates the dorsum and tail, while soft tonal gradients transition seamlessly from head to caudal fin. The resulting harmony of yellow, orange, and green reads vividly yet tastefully, making this print a serene focal point for a study, library, lakeside retreat, or modern living space. Beyond its scientific rigor, the plate’s crisp silhouette and meticulous stippling offer timeless graphic appeal—an elegant reason to own it purely for its beauty.

Thoughtful and refined, this piece makes a memorable gift for anglers, naturalists, and lovers of American wildlife. It’s a handsome choice for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a housewarming, or to celebrate someone returning from a fishing trip or travels out West—an heirloom-quality print that bridges science, sport, and art.

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.