Smew or White Nun
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
1945.8.347
Art Historical Context
"Smew or White Nun is a stunning print from John James Audubon's monumental *The Birds of America* (1827–1838), one of the most ambitious natural history projects of the 19th century. Created 1836 by master engraver Robert Havell Audubon's original watercolor, it depicts the elegant Smew duck—also known as the White Nun—for its pristine plumage. Audubon, a pioneering American ornithologist and artist, sought to portray birds life-sized and in dynamic poses, revolutionizing scientific illustration by blending artistry with meticulous observation. The medium, a hand-colored engraving and aquati...
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...