Artwork
American Avocet
American Avocet is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
American Avocet is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1836.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the American avocet, a wading bird, in its natural habitat, standing on a sandy shore near water with other birds, palm trees, and a distant coastline in the background.
Technique & Style
The image was rendered through a combination of precise engraving techniques and hand coloring, utilizing fine lines and shading to achieve a realistic representation of the bird's feathers and its surroundings.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr., a member of a family known for their expertise in aquatint, created the work, bringing his skill in the medium to the depiction of the American avocet.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
