Artwork
Bank Swallow and Violet-green Swallow
Bank Swallow and Violet-green Swallow 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. Created in 1837, this hand‑colored print combines engraving and aquatint on smooth Whatman wove paper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1837, this hand‑colored print combines engraving and aquatint on smooth Whatman wove paper. It presents two swallow species—one commonly called the bank swallow and the other the violet‑green swallow—caught in mid‑flight and within their nests carved into a rocky cliff. The composition balances the birds’ dynamic movement with the solidity of the stone setting.
Subject & Meaning
The image records the natural behavior of the two swallows, emphasizing their agility as they launch from, and return to, their cliffside nests. By portraying both birds in contrasting poses, the work highlights the species’ distinct plumage hues—earthy browns, muted greens, and subtle purples—while underscoring their shared reliance on the same rugged habitat.
Technique & Style
Robert Havell Jr. employed a dual process: fine line engraving to define form and detail, followed by aquatint to produce broad tonal washes. After printing, selective hand‑coloring added naturalistic shades to the feathers and stone. The use of Whatman wove paper provides a uniform surface that enhances the subtle gradations achieved through aquatint.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Robert Havell Jr., a member of a distinguished English family of engravers and etchers. The Havells were noted for their technical skill in aquatint and for collaborations that linked British printmaking with Indian artistic traditions. This particular work reflects the family’s commercial output in the early Victorian period.
Context
Issued during a period of heightened interest in ornithology and natural history illustration, the print aligns with contemporary scientific publications that sought accurate visual records of bird species. Its detailed rendering would have appealed to collectors and scholars interested in both aesthetic representation and empirical observation of avian life.
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.
