Senegal Lark-Hell, Plate 20 from Birds of Western Africa
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Hamill and Barker
Accession Number
1961-105-178
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
William Home Lizars created this striking print in 1837 as Plate 20 in the volume *Birds of Western Africa*. A Scottish artist and engraver active during the height of 19th-century natural history publishing, Lizars specialized in detailed illustrations that brought exotic species to European audiences. The work depicts the Senegal Lark-Hell, capturing the bird’s distinctive form and plumage with the precision expected of scientific illustration at the time. As part of a larger series documenting avian life from West Africa, the print reflects the era’s growing interest in exploration, geogra...