Great Tern
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
1945.8.309
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Great Tern*, a stunning hand-colored engraving and aquatint by Robert Havell, faithfully reproducing John James Audubon's original watercolor from his landmark publication *The Birds of America (1827–1838). Created in 1836 on fine Whatman wove paper, this print captures the tern in dynamic flight against a naturalistic backdrop, showcasing Audubon's revolutionary approach to avian portraiture. Audubon, a pioneering naturalist and artist, depicted birds life-size with dramatic poses drawn from meticulous field observations, blending scientific accuracy with artistic flair d...
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...