Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)

Art Historical Context

This hand-colored lithograph captures the striking Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) with remarkable precision and vitality. Created between 1801 and 1825 by John Gould, a leading 19th-century ornithologist and publisher, in collaboration with artist H.C. Richter, the print exemplifies the era’s growing fascination with natural history illustration. Gould’s works helped bring exotic and European bird species to wider audiences through detailed, scientifically informed images. The medium itself is noteworthy: lithography, a relatively new printing technique at the time, allowed for fine lines and textures that faithfully rendered the bird’s plumage and form. Each impression was then meticulously hand-colored, adding rich depth to the black feathers and woodland setting. Measuring roughly 22 by 15 inches, the sheet would have formed part of a larger series intended for study and appreciation. Today, this print from the National Gallery of Art’s collection invites viewers to appreciate both the artistry and the scientific curiosity of the period, when such images advanced public understanding of the natural world.

About the Artist

John Gould and H.C. Richter

John Gould (1804–1881) and Henry Constantine Richter (1821–1902) formed one of the most productive and celebrated partnerships in the history of natural history illustration. Gould, an English ornithologist and publisher of extraordinary ambition, built a career on the production of lavishly illustrated folio volumes documenting the birds of Britain, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas. Thou...