Field Sparrow
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
1945.8.139
Art Historical Context
"Field Sparrow," a exquisite hand-colored engraving and aquint from 1832, captures the delicate charm of this common North American bird through the masterful collaboration of John James Audubon and engraver Robert Havell. Audubon, the pioneering naturalist-artist behind the monumental *The Birds of America* (7–1838), birds from life in their habitats, aiming to depict them at actual size—a revolutionary approach that blended scientific accuracy with artistic drama. Havell, working in London, translated Audubon's vibrant watercolors into prints, ensuring the series' fidelity and splendor. This...
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...