Savannah Finch
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
1945.8.109
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Savannah Finch*, a hand-colored engraving and aquatint from 1831, crafted by master printer Robert Havell after the original watercolor by John James Aud. This print is a gem from Audubon's legendary *Birds of America series (1827–1838), the most ambitious ornithological work of its time. Audubon, a pioneering naturalist and artist, revolutionized bird illustration by depicting species life-size in dynamic, naturalistic poses amid their habitats—here, the Savannah Finch perches vividly against a textured backdrop, capturing the bird's subtle plumage and alert demeanor. The medium ...
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...