Artwork
Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Black-capped Titmouse and Chestnut-crowned Titmouse
Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Black-capped Titmouse and Chestnut-crowned Titmouse 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 print combines hand‑coloring with engraving and aquatint on a sheet of Whatman wove paper.
About this work
Overview
The composition balances naturalistic detail with a clear, scientific intent, offering a concise visual record of the birds.
Created in 1837, this print combines hand‑coloring with engraving and aquatint on a sheet of Whatman wove paper. The image presents three North American titmouse species—Chestnut‑backed, Black‑capped, and Chestnut‑crowned—arranged on branches and foliage, each identified by a label. The composition balances naturalistic detail with a clear, scientific intent, offering a concise visual record of the birds.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on three small passerine birds, each rendered with attention to plumage coloration and posture. By labeling each specimen, the print serves as an educational tool, reflecting 19th‑century interests in cataloguing wildlife and disseminating knowledge about North American avifauna to a European audience.
Technique & Style
Robert Havell Jr. employed a copper plate for both line engraving and aquatint, the latter providing tonal washes that suggest depth in foliage and background. After printing, the image was hand‑colored with pigments that preserve the natural hues of greens, browns, and soft blues, enhancing the scientific accuracy while retaining an artistic quality.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, a lineage renowned for their expertise in aquatint and connections to Indian artistic traditions. Produced during a period of heightened interest in natural history, the piece likely circulated among collectors and scholars interested in ornithology and illustration.
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.
