Key-west Dove

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Key-West Dove*, a exquisite hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper, crafted in 1833 by master printer Robert Havell after John James Audubon's original watercolor. This monumental print, measuring an impressive plate size of 51.3 x 65.4 cm (sheet: 67.6 x 99.7 cm), captures the delicate beauty of the Key West dove—a species native to the Florida Keys—in life-like detail. It hails from Audubon's groundbreaking *The Birds of America* (1827–1838), a double-elephant folio series that revolutionized natural history illustration by blending scientific precision with artistic splendor. Havell's aquatint technique masterfully replicates Audubon's dynamic compositions, using etched lines for fine feathers and tonal washes for lifelike shading, while hand-coloring by skilled artisans adds vibrant realism to the dove's soft plumage and tropical perch. Printed on high-quality Whatman wove paper, known for its durability and smooth surface ideal for intricate printing, these works were luxury editions subscribed to by nobility and scholars across Europe and America. A gift to the National Gallery of Art from Mrs. Walter B. James, this piece exemplifies 19th-century innovation at the intersection of art, science, and exploration, inviting visitors to marvel at Audubon's passion for America's wild avian wonders.

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...