Swamp Sparrow
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
1945.8.64
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Swamp Sparrow* (1829), a exquisite print from John James Audubon's groundbreakingThe Birds of America*, masterfully engraved and hand-colored by Robert Havell. Audubon, a pioneering naturalist and artist, sought to depict American birds life-size in their habitats, revolutionizing ornithological illustration during the early 19th century. This plate captures the sparrow perched amid marsh reeds, its feathers rendered with lifelike precision, embodying Audubon's passion for blending scientific accuracy with artistic drama. Crafted as a hand-colored engraving and aquatint on fine Wh...
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...