Plate 25, from "Histoire naturelle des perroquets"

Art Historical Context

Plate 25 from *Histoire naturelle des perroquets*, created between 1801 and 1806, is a stunning hand-colored engraving that captures the vibrant plumage and intricate details of a parrot species. Produced through a collaboration between naturalist François Levaillant renowned illustrator Jacques Barraband, and engraver Langis, this plate exemplifies the golden age of ornithological art. Levaillant's expeditions to Africa and beyond fueled his comprehensive study of parrots, while Barraband's precise yet elegant illustrations brought these exotic birds to life on the page. This work belongs to a lavish three-volume publication that blended scientific rigor with artistic splendor, reflecting Europe's early 19th-century fascination with natural history amid colonial exploration. Hand-coloring each engraving by skilled artisans enhanced the feathers' iridescent sheen and lifelike textures, making the prints both educational tools for scholars and coveted decorative objects for collectors. At over 20 inches tall, the large sheet format allowed for dramatic scale, immersing viewers in the bird's world. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman in 2019, this plate highlights the intersection of art and science, inviting us to marvel at nature's diversity through 200-year-old mastery.

About the Artist

Jacques Barraband|François Levaillant|Langlois ( |French|French) · |1767 |1753 – |1809 |1824

|French, Aubusson 1767–1809 Lyon|French, Paramaribo 1753–1824 La Noue