Brown Bird on Apple Branch, with Caterpillar
ca. 1800â1830
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1923-22-3
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Brown Bird on Apple Branch, Caterpillar** *ca. 1800–1830, Drawing, Smithsonian American Art Museum* Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection this delicate drawing captures a brown bird perched on an apple alongside a caterpillar, offering a glimpse into early 19th-century American fascination with the natural world. Created around 1800–1830, a time when the young United States was expanding westward and natural history studies flourished—inspired by European traditions and figures like John James Audubon—the artwork reflects the era's growing curiosity about native fl...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...