Small Green-Crested Flycatcher

Art Historical Context

Behold the vibrant *Small Green-Crested Flycatcher*, a exquisite print from John James Audubon's legendary *The Birds of America* (1827–1838), rendered in 1832 by master engraver Robert Havell. Audubon, a pioneering American ornithologist and artist, revolutionized natural history illustration by depicting birds life-size in dynamic, naturalistic poses amid their habitats—far from the stiff, scientific diagrams of his predecessors. This tropical flycatcher, with its iridescent green crest and poised elegance, captures Audubon's passion for the wild beauty of North and South American avifauna, drawn from his extensive field studies and travels. Crafted as a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on fine Whatman wove paper, the work showcases Havell's technical brilliance. Aquatint provided subtle tonal gradations for feathers and foliage, while precise engraving ensured sharp details; skilled colorists then applied washes by hand, yielding the jewel-like hues that made these plates collector's treasures. Produced for the lavish "double elephant folio" edition—measuring over 39 inches tall—these prints were feats of 19th-century printing, blending art and science at a time when such large-scale color reproduction was groundbreaking. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art as a gift from Mrs. Walter B. James, this piece endures as a testament to Audubon's influence on environmental awareness and American art, inviting visitors to marvel at nature's artistry preserved in ink and pigment.

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...