Artwork
Ruffed Grouse
Ruffed Grouse is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1828, this hand‑colored engraving and aquatint presents a small gathering of grouse within a subdued woodland setting.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1828, this hand‑colored engraving and aquatint presents a small gathering of grouse within a subdued woodland setting.
Created in 1828, this hand‑colored engraving and aquatint presents a small gathering of grouse within a subdued woodland setting. The birds occupy the foreground, some perched on low branches, others standing on the forest floor, while a muted brown backdrop and distant foliage frame the scene. The composition conveys a quiet natural moment, emphasizing the birds’ plumage and the surrounding vegetation.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a group of ruffed grouse, a game bird native to temperate forests, rendered in various poses that suggest a brief pause in their daily activity. By focusing on the birds’ detailed feathers and the gentle play of light across the foliage, the image invites contemplation of rural life and the subtle beauty of ordinary wildlife.
Technique & Style
Executed by Robert Havell Jr., the piece combines engraving with aquatint, a method that produces tonal washes resembling watercolor. After the print was pulled, the image was hand‑colored on Whatman wove paper, allowing a nuanced palette of earthy browns, muted greens, and soft highlights. The precise line work and careful shading reflect the Havell family’s long‑standing expertise in printmaking.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr. belonged to a prominent Reading, Berkshire family of engravers; his father, Robert Havell the Elder, and uncle, Daniel Havell, were well‑known for their aquatint productions and connections to Indian art. The 1828 print exemplifies the younger Havell’s continuation of these family traditions, and it remains a representative example of early‑19th‑century British natural history illustration.
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.
