Artwork
Snow-Bird
Snow-Bird is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Havell Jr.. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Snow‑Bird is a hand‑colored engraving and aquatint produced in 1827 by Robert Havell Jr. The print appears on Whatman wove paper, a material commonly employed for high‑quality prints in the early nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts two small birds perched on slender twigs, a darker bird with a pale belly positioned above a lighter‑toned companion. Beneath them a cluster of dark, teardrop‑shaped berries hangs, while the plain background isolates the figures, emphasizing their plumage and posture.
Technique & Style
Havell combined line engraving with aquatint, then applied hand‑coloring to achieve subtle tonal variation. The careful rendering of feathers and the delicate rendering of the berries illustrate the artist’s skill in both drawing and the manipulation of tonal washes characteristic of aquatint.
History & Provenance
Born into the Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, Havell Jr. inherited a tradition of engraving, etching and painting. The family was noted for expertise in aquatint and for connections to Indian art, though Snow‑Bird reflects a European natural‑history subject typical of the period’s print market.
Context
In the 1820s, detailed bird prints were popular among naturalists and collectors. The use of Whatman wove paper and hand‑coloring aligned with contemporary practices for producing illustrated works that could be reproduced and distributed before the advent of photography.
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.
