Docimastes ensiferus (Sword-billed Hummingbird)
1842
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1842
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This painting shows a bright green hummingbird with a long, curved beak hovering near a red flower. Another bird perches above, resting on a leafy branch. The leaves are large and waxy-looking, while the background is a soft, pale blue. The artist used careful details to show the bird’s feathers and the flower’s shape. This was made as a scientific illustration, but it’s also very pretty. Next, look up lithography to see how this kind of print was made.
