Artwork
Least Bittern
Least Bittern is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
'Least Bittern' is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1834.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts three Least Bittern birds on a rocky outcropping surrounded by tall grasses, with a serene body of water and vegetation in the background. The birds' naturalistic poses convey a sense of tranquility.
Technique & Style
Havell Jr. employed aquatint, a technique in which his family excelled, to achieve a nuanced, multi-tonal effect. Hand-coloring adds further depth and dimensionality to the scene.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr. came from a family of engravers and artists based in Reading, Berkshire, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, both influential in the field.
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.
