Artwork
Least Water-hen
Least Water-hen 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
Least Water-hen is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint print on Whatman wove paper, created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1836. The work depicts two birds in a marshy landscape, showcasing the artist's meticulous attention to detail and color.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates two birds, identified as a Least Water-hen, in a naturalistic setting. One bird, brown with white spots, stands on the ground, while a smaller, black bird with a yellow beak emerges from the reeds, set against a backdrop of tall green plants and calm water.
Technique & Style
Employing the Havell family's renowned expertise in aquatint, Robert Havell Jr. combined this technique with hand-colored engraving to achieve intricate, lifelike renderings of the birds' feathers and the wetland vegetation.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr. drew upon his family's legacy in engraving and connections to Indian art, building on the work of his father, Robert Havell the Elder, and uncle, Luke Havell, to produce this print.
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.
