Artwork
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Home Lizars. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1827, this print by William Home Lizars depicts a pair of white‑throated sparrows perched upon a branch of dogwood. Rendered on Whatman paper, the composition balances the two birds—one smaller and brownish, the other larger with contrasting black, white and yellow markings—against a backdrop of large white blossoms and verdant foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The work identifies the avian figures as a male and a female white‑throated sparrow, a species native to North America. By placing the pair on a dogwood branch, Lizars highlights a natural habitat where these birds commonly feed and nest, offering a straightforward study of gender dimorphism and seasonal plant‑bird interaction.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving with hand‑applied color, the image combines line work and tonal shading typical of early nineteenth‑century printmaking. The use of Whatman paper provides a smooth surface for fine incisions, while the subsequent hand‑coloring adds subtle hues to the birds’ plumage and the white dogwood blossoms, enhancing depth without obscuring the engraved lines.
History & Provenance
William Home Lizars, a Scottish engraver active in the early 1800s, produced this piece during a period when natural history illustration was in demand for scientific publications and collectors. The print’s date, 1827, situates it within Lizars’ mature output; its survival on archival paper suggests it was intended for limited distribution among patrons interested in ornithological subjects.
Artist & collection
