Artwork
Le Petit Caporal
Le Petit Caporal is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1829 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1829, *Le Petit Caporal* is a hand‑colored engraving combined with aquatint, printed on smooth Whatman wove paper. The work bears the name of a junior non‑commissioned officer, a phrase historically linked to Napoleon, and depicts a falcon perched on a twisted branch.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a falcon, identified as *Falco temerarius*, perched on a gnarled limb with a few green leaves. The bird’s brown‑black plumage, lighter chest, sharp eyes and curved beak are rendered with precise line work, emphasizing its predatory poise against an unadorned background.
Technique & Style
The print employs aquatint, a tonal method the Havell family mastered, alongside fine engraving lines to model feather texture and shadow. Hand‑coloring adds subtle hues to the bird’s plumage and foliage, enhancing the naturalistic effect while retaining the crispness of the metal‑plate engraving.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr., a member of the prominent Havell family of engravers based in Reading, Berkshire, executed the piece. The Havells were noted for their long‑standing engagement with Indian artistic subjects, though this particular work focuses on a European bird. The print reflects the family’s reputation for technical skill in aquatint during the early nineteenth century.
Context
Produced during a period when natural history illustration was popular among European collectors, the work aligns with the era’s fascination with detailed, scientifically informed depictions of fauna. The title’s reference to a military rank adds a cultural layer, invoking the Napoleonic legacy that remained vivid in early‑19th‑century Britain.
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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.
