Artwork
Black-Poll Warbler
Black-Poll Warbler is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Black-Poll Warbler is a 1832 print by Robert Havell Jr., created using hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two Black-Poll Warblers perched on a branch with leaves and dark berries, showcasing the bird's black, white, and gray plumage with brown streaks. The detailed representation suggests a scientific or naturalistic approach.
Technique & Style
The image features fine lines and gradations of tone, characteristic of aquatint printing, which was a specialty of the Havell family. The technique allows for detailed, tonal representations, evident in the texture of the birds' feathers and the shading of the leaves.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr. worked within a family tradition of engraving, publishing, and art, being the son of Robert Havell the Elder. The print is part of a period when aquatint was widely used for natural history subjects.
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.
