Artwork
Prairie Starling
Prairie Starling is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Prairie Starling is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint print on Whatman wove paper, executed in 1838 by Robert Havell Jr. The piece showcases the artist’s skill in combining engraving and aquatint techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print accurately depicts two North American Prairie Starlings perched on a branch with green leaves. The birds’ distinct plumage is precisely rendered: one with brown feathers and a red back patch, the other predominantly black with a bright red chest. Their subtly varied poses imply movement.
Technique & Style
Havell Jr. leveraged the tonal subtleties of aquatint to achieve depth and shading, complemented by hand coloring. The careful detail and scientific labeling (matching the species’ name) indicate the work’s intention as a natural history study.
History & Provenance
Created in 1838, Prairie Starling reflects the Havell family’s established expertise in aquatint. The family had a longstanding engagement with Indian art and culture, building on the legacy of earlier members like Luke Havell and Robert Havell the Elder.
Context
The piece belongs to a tradition of 19th-century natural history illustration, where precise depiction of species was valued. The use of Whatman wove paper and the combination of engraving with aquatint were characteristic of high-quality printmaking at the time.
Legacy
While specific lasting impacts of *Prairie Starling* on broader art historical movements are not well-documented, it remains a testament to the Havell family’s technical prowess in aquatint and their contribution to the field of natural history illustration in the 19th century.
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.
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Rusty Grakle
Scarlet minivet
Boat-Tailed Grackle
Louisiana Tanager and Scarlet Tanager
Little Tawny Thrush