Who painted Polyborus Tharus, Var.?

Polyborus Tharus, Var. was painted by J. Smit in 1840.

Where can I see Polyborus Tharus, Var.?

Polyborus Tharus, Var. is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Polyborus Tharus, Var.?

Polyborus Tharus, Var. is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Polyborus Tharus, Var.

J. Smit , 1840

Polyborus Tharus, Var. is an ink print by the Romanticist artist J. Smit. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Polyborus Tharus, Var. is a hand‑colored lithographic print produced in 1840 by the Dutch artist J. Smit. The image presents a naturalistic study of two birds perched together on a branch, rendered in muted greys and browns with touches of orange and white highlighting the facial area. A simple backdrop of green foliage and a faint suggestion of a tree trunk frames the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a pair of birds identified by the label *Polyborus Tharus* at the bottom of the print, suggesting the image was intended as a scientific illustration of a specific, perhaps newly recorded, avian variety. The careful rendering of beaks, plumage texture, and posture emphasizes observational accuracy over decorative intent.

Technique & Style

After printing, the monochrome outlines were selectively hand‑colored, adding subtle hues to the birds’ faces and the surrounding foliage.

Created through lithography, the image was first drawn with greasy ink on a limestone plate, then chemically treated to retain the drawing while repelling water. After printing, the monochrome outlines were selectively hand‑colored, adding subtle hues to the birds’ faces and the surrounding foliage. The style combines precise line work with modest coloration typical of mid‑19th‑century natural history prints.

History & Provenance

The print originates from J. Smit’s output in the early 1840s, a period when European artists frequently produced illustrated plates for scientific publications. While the exact ownership trail is not documented here, the work likely circulated among collectors of natural history prints or served as a reference for ornithological studies of the era.