Nuttall's Lesser Marsh Wren

Art Historical Context

Behold *Nuttall's Lesser Wren*, a stunning plate from John James Audub groundbreaking *Birds of America* (1827–1838), meticulously engraved by Robert Havell after Audubon's original watercolor in 1833. Audubon, a pioneering naturalist and artist, sought to document every North American bird species at life size, revolutionizing ornithological illustration with his dynamic compositions. This print captures the tiny wren—named for botanist Thomas Nuttall—perched amid marsh reeds, showcasing Audubon's flair for dramatic poses and naturalistic habitats that brought birds vividly to life. Crafted as a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on fine Whatman wove paper, the work exemplifies 19th-century printing innovation. Havell's aquatint technique allowed for subtle tonal gradations mimicking watercolor's softness, while expert hand-coloring added lifelike vibrancy to feathers and foliage. Measuring a grand 49.5 x 31.1 cm on the plate (within a 100.3 x 67.3 cm sheet), these "double elephant folio" prints were subscription luxuries for elite collectors, blending art, science, and exploration during America's expanding frontier era. A generous gift to the National Gallery of Art from Mrs. Walter B. James, this piece highlights the cultural fusion of Romanticism's wonder for nature with empirical science, inspiring generations of conservationists and artists alike.

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...