Rose-breasted Grosbeak
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
1945.8.127
Art Historical Context
Behold the vibrant *Rose-breasted Grosbe*, a stunning plate from John James Audub monumental *The Birds of America* (7–1838),fully engraved and hand-colored by Robert Havell. in 1832. Audubon, a pioneering naturalist and artist, captured North American birds at life size, drawing directly from live specimens in dynamic, naturalistic poses amid their habitats. This print exemplifies his fusion of scientific precision and artistic flair, revolutionizing ornithological illustration during the early 19th century's explosion of natural history interest. Printed on high-quality Whatman wove paper, ...
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...