Artwork

The Red-Headed Finch from Surinam

The Red-Headed Finch from Surinam, by George Edwards, ink, 1741
The Red-Headed Finch from Surinam, by George Edwards, ink, 1741

The Red-Headed Finch from Surinam is an ink print by the Baroque artist George Edwards. It dates from 1741 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Red-Headed Finch from Surinam is a hand-colored etching on laid paper created by George Edwards in 1741.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two birds, one perched on a bare branch and the other amidst foliage and water, identified as a red-headed finch from Surinam, suggesting a representation of a real species from that region.

Technique & Style

The image features flat yet vivid colors against a neutral background, with simple yet precise renderings of branches and leaves, characteristic of scientific illustrations of the period.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.