Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by the Romanticist artist William Swainson. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1836 drawing by William Swainson is a detailed study of a Sierra Leone Touraco's head, previously known as the Senegal Touraco.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a bright green bird with a red face and beak, its feathers rendered in soft strokes, conveying a sense of movement and alertness.
Technique & Style
The artist's focus on texture is evident in the three-dimensional appearance of the feathers, achieved through careful observation and rendering, characteristic of scientific drawings of the period.
History & Provenance
The drawing served as a study for Plate 21 in *Birds of Western Africa*, published in 1837 as part of *The Naturalist’s Library*, edited by Sir William Jardine.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Swainson FLS, FRS, was an English ornithologist, malacologist, conchologist, entomologist and artist.
