Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
1801
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1801
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This bird stands tall on one leg, its long tail feathers trailing behind like a fan. Its head is bright yellow with a red face, and its body mixes soft pink, green, and blue feathers. The wing feathers glow green, while the tail has stripes of brown and red. The artist used smooth watercolor to show every feather in detail, almost like a real bird. This style was common in the early 1800s when people loved studying nature closely. Want to see more? Check out watercolor, glazing.
