Urocissa cucullata

Art Historical Context

This hand-colored lithograph, titled *Urocissa cucullata*, captures the striking form of a hooded magpie with remarkable precision and vibrancy. Created by the renowned British ornithologist and illustrator John Gould in collaboration H.C. Richter, the work dates to the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Gould’s extensive series of bird studies helped bring exotic species to European audiences during an era of expanding global exploration and scientific discovery. The medium of hand-colored lithography was ideally suited to natural history publications of the period. Lithography allowed for fine detail in the bird’s plumage and posture, while delicate watercolor washes added lifelike color to each impression. Measuring approximately 55 by 37 centimeters, the sheet size was practical for inclusion in large-format folios that became treasured references for both scientists and amateur naturalists. Today part of the National Gallery of Art’s Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, this print exemplifies the fruitful intersection of art and science in Victorian Britain. Gould’s illustrations remain valued not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their contribution to the documentation of avian species during a pivotal time in ornithological study.

About the Artist

John Gould and H.C. Richter

John Gould (1804–1881) and Henry Constantine Richter (1821–1902) formed one of the most productive and celebrated partnerships in the history of natural history illustration. Gould, an English ornithologist and publisher of extraordinary ambition, built a career on the production of lavishly illustrated folio volumes documenting the birds of Britain, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas. Thou...