The Salutation of the Birds (Il Saluto degli uccelli) [plate C]

The print gathers a variety of birds, predominantly owls with enlarged, expressive eyes, alongside smaller songbirds and occasional foliage. While the work does not convey a narrative scene, the collective greeting of the birds suggests a study of natural diversity, perhaps reflecting contemporary interests in cataloguing and celebrating the animal kingdom.

Executed as an etching, Ligozzi employed a single white ink on a dark paper, allowing the incised lines to emerge with crisp clarity. The artist’s meticulous handling of line creates intricate textures on feathers and leaves, while the negative space defines the surrounding darkness, a hallmark of his precise naturalistic approach.

Created during the late Renaissance–Mannerist transition, the print exemplifies Ligozzi’s broader practice of detailed natural observation. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work is known from early 17th‑century print collections and remains a rare example of a single‑plate composition featuring such a multitude of birds.