Artwork

Audubon's Warbler, Hermit Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler

Audubon's Warbler, Hermit Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This print is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper, depicting three species of warblers.

About this work

Overview

This print is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper, depicting three species of warblers. Created in 1837, it showcases the technical skill of its maker, Robert Havell Jr., in reproductive printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The image features five birds—Audubon's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, and Black-throated Gray Warbler—perched on a branch with red berries and green leaves. Each bird is labeled with its name and gender, a common practice in scientific illustrations of the time, highlighting the print's informative and documentary purpose.

Technique & Style

The print combines careful lines and shading to achieve a detailed representation of the birds' feathers. The use of aquatint and hand-coloring allows for a range of tonal values and colors, creating a visually engaging and accurate depiction of the birds.

History & Provenance

Robert Havell Jr., a member of a prominent English family of engravers and artists, produced this print. As the son of Robert Havell the Elder, he continued a family tradition of technical skill in reproductive printmaking that spanned multiple generations.

Artist & collection

Artist

Robert Havell Jr.

The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.