Damophila amabilis (Blue-breasted Hummingbird)

Created as a lithographic print, the image was subsequently hand‑colored, a common practice in mid‑19th‑century natural illustration. Gould’s line work combines scientific precision with artistic flourish, while the applied watercolor pigments deliver saturated hues that differentiate the hummingbirds from the softer background tones.

Published in 1842 as part of Gould’s extensive series of ornithological monographs, the lithograph reflects his collaboration with skilled artists and colorists of the period. Though primarily a scientific document, the piece circulated among collectors of natural history prints and remains associated with Gould’s legacy as a leading Victorian ornithologist.

During the early Victorian era, expanding exploration of the Americas introduced European scientists to numerous new bird species. Gould’s publications, including this depiction of Damophila amabilis, contributed to the cataloguing of Neotropical avifauna and supported the broader growth of comparative anatomy and taxonomy.