Black-capped Titmouse
Medium
hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James
Accession Number
1945.8.160
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate charm of the *Black-capped Titmouse a 1833 hand-colored engraving and aquatint by Robert Havell, faithfully reproducing John James Audubon's original watercolor. This exquisite print hails from Audubon's groundbreaking *Birds of America* series (1827–1838), a monumental project that revolutionized natural history illustration with life-sized depictions of over 400 North American bird species in dynamic, naturalistic poses amid their habitats. Havell's mastery of engraving and aquatint techniques shines here: fine lines capture the titmouse's fluffy plumage and inquisitive ...
About the Artist
Robert Havell after John James Audubon
Robert Havell Jr., born on November 25, 1793, in Reading, Berkshire, England, was the son of renowned engraver and publisher Robert Havell Sr. and Lydia Miller Phillips. Growing up in a family of artists that included notable engravers and etchers, he trained under his father, mastering aquatint techniques early on. Though briefly estranged from the family business, Havell reconciled with his fath...