Richardson's Jager
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
1945.8.272
Art Historical Context
"Richardson's Jaeger," a stunning 1835 hand-colored engraving and aquatint by Havell after John James Audubon, captures the fierce elegance of this Arctic seabird (also known as the parasitic jaeger) in mid-flight. Part of Audubon's groundbreaking *The Birds of America*, this print exemplifies the artist's revolutionary approach to ornithological illustration, depicting birds in dynamic, life-sized poses amid their natural habitats rather than stiff, static portraits. Audubon's keen observation brought American wildlife to vivid life, inspiring generations of naturalists and artists. Havell's...
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...