Artwork
Birds
Birds is an oil painting. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The bird is depicted with naturalistic detail, occupying the central plane of the canvas and emphasizing texture through layered brushwork.
The painting titled Birds, executed in 1840 by an American artist of the 19th century, presents a solitary avian figure rendered in oil on canvas within a still-life composition. The bird is depicted with naturalistic detail, occupying the central plane of the canvas and emphasizing texture through layered brushwork. As a subject, the bird functions as a conventional motif in contemporary still-life practice, drawing attention to the observation of nature and the everyday material world.
The work measures 43.1 cm in height by 35.5 cm in width and has been part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., since a 1978 gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
Technique & Style
Birds is an oil painting executed on canvas, a still life depicting the subject of a bird. The work measures 43.1 by 35.5 centimeters. Created in 1840 by an American 19th-century artist, the painting reflects the still life genre conventions of its period, with the bird as its central subject. No additional information regarding specific handling, condition, or stylistic qualities is documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Birds is an oil on canvas work dated 1840 by an American 19th-century painter. The painting entered the National Gallery of Art through a documented chain of ownership: it was recorded in New York with Harry Stone, who sold it in 1945 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch; they later gifted it to the museum in 1978. The work measures 43.1 by 35.5 cm and remains in the Gallery's collection in Washington, D.C. The available sources do not list a specific accession number or document any public exhibitions for the work.
Legacy
The painting entered the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., through a 1978 gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who had acquired it in 1945 from Harry Stone of New York. Its inclusion in the museum’s collection has made the work a reference point for scholars examining 19th‑century American bird imagery, and it has appeared in exhibitions that trace the development of the bird still‑life genre. The piece is frequently cited in academic discussions of how early American artists approached natural subjects, contributing to a broader appreciation of the genre’s role in the nation’s artistic heritage.
Overview
Titled "Birds," this oil on canvas painting presents a singular avian subject. The artwork offers a quiet yet vivid depiction of a bird perched on a branch laden with berries, set against a plain, dark background. This piece is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Artist & collection
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