Artwork

Dusky Duck

Dusky Duck, by Robert Havell Jr., ink, 1836
Dusky Duck, by Robert Havell Jr., ink, 1836

Dusky Duck 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

Dusky Duck is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1836.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a duck in a naturalistic setting, part of a series of ornithological illustrations intended to educate viewers about various bird species.

Technique & Style

Havell Jr. employed aquatint, a technique his family helped develop, to achieve tonal subtlety in the rendering of the duck's plumage and surroundings.

Context

As a member of a family of engravers, etchers, and painters with ties to Indian art and culture, Havell Jr.'s work reflects a broader tradition of artistic and cultural exchange.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Robert Havell Jr.

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.