Artwork
Rocky Mountain Plover
Rocky Mountain Plover 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
Rocky Mountain Plover is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint print created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1836, showcasing the Havell family's aquatint expertise and their connection to Native American art and culture.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene scene of a Rocky Mountain Plover, a North American shorebird, sitting on a grassy slope with rocky cliffs and distant mountains in the background. The bird's pose, with slightly spread wings and turned head, suggests a moment of quiet attention.
Technique & Style
Executed on Whatman wove paper, the work features precise, tonal rendering characteristic of aquatint. Fine lines are used to detail the bird's feathers and the landscape, demonstrating the artist's skill in the medium.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr., son of Robert Havell the Elder, came from a multi-generational family of English artists (from Reading, Berkshire) renowned for their aquatint skills. The piece reflects their long-standing engagement with Native American art and culture.
Context
The use of Whatman wove paper and the aquatint technique situates the work within the traditions of fine engraving of the early 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.
