Who painted Hydrochelidon nigra?

Hydrochelidon nigra was painted by John Gould in 1842.

Where can I see Hydrochelidon nigra?

Hydrochelidon nigra is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Hydrochelidon nigra?

Hydrochelidon nigra is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Hydrochelidon nigra?

Museum-quality prints of Hydrochelidon nigra are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Hydrochelidon nigra

John Gould , 1842

Hydrochelidon nigra is an ink print by the Romanticist artist John Gould. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate: J.Gould & H.C.Richter, del et lith.; lower center in plate: HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA.; lower right in plate: Walter, Imp.

About this work

Overview

Hydrochelidon nigra is a hand‑coloured lithographic print executed on wove paper in 1842. The image depicts three black swifts gathered over a shallow wetland, one in low flight with spread wings and two perched among reeds beneath a pale yellow sky. The scientific name appears beneath the scene, identifying the species portrayed.

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the black swift, a small, dark‑plumaged bird associated with aquatic habitats. By showing the bird both in flight and at rest, the print conveys aspects of its behavior, its agile, low‑level soaring and its tendency to rest in reed‑lined shallows, offering a concise naturalistic study.

Technique & Style

Created through lithography, the image was first drawn onto a limestone plate, then printed and subsequently hand‑coloured to achieve the subtle hues of sky, water, and vegetation. The bird’s wings display a finely rendered, scale‑like pattern, characteristic of the detailed line work typical of early‑to‑mid‑19th‑century scientific illustration.

History & Provenance

The print forms part of the extensive ornithological oeuvre of English naturalist John Gould, whose collaborative projects often involved artists such as his wife Elizabeth Gould and the illustrator Edward Lear. Produced during the period when Gould was publishing his multi‑volume work The Birds of Australia, the piece reflects his reputation as a leading figure in Victorian‑era bird illustration.

Hyperborean Phalarope, Havell, Jr., Robert

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Artist & collection

Artist

John Gould

John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist who published monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward…