Clytolaema aurescens (Banded Ruby or Gould's Ruby)

Created through lithography, the original drawing was transferred onto stone and then printed in black. Afterward, skilled colourists applied water‑based paints by hand, layer by layer, to achieve the luminous effect of the birds’ feathers and the surrounding flora. The method reflects the 19th‑century practice of combining mechanical reproduction with artisanal finishing.

Published in 1842, the print formed part of Gould’s multi‑volume works on avian species, which were circulated among naturalists, collectors and institutions across Europe. While Gould oversaw the project, contributions from artists such as his wife Elizabeth, Edward Lear and Henry Constantine Richter were typical of his collaborative production model.

During the mid‑1800s, European interest in exotic wildlife surged, driven by exploration and colonial expansion. Gould’s plates served both scientific documentation and public education, making newly described birds accessible to a broader audience and reinforcing the period’s fascination with the natural world.