Rufous-Vented Kinghunter, Plate 12 from Birds of Western Africa
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Hamill and Barker
Accession Number
1961-105-170
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This striking print, created by Scottish artist William Home Lizars in 1837, captures the Rufous-Vented Kinghunter as Plate 12 from the publication *Birds of Western Africa*. Lizars, renowned for his precise engravings of natural history subjects, played a key role in the 19th-century surge of illustrated scientific works that brought exotic wildlife to European audiences. His detailed rendering highlights the bird’s distinctive plumage and posture, reflecting the era’s growing fascination with ornithology and exploration in Africa. As a hand-colored print, this work exemplifies the technical...