1835
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
American Snipe is a 1835 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows two birds called American Snipes in a marshy area. One bird is perched on a rock, while the other stands in tall reeds near water. The background has a quiet landscape with trees, a house, and a distant field. The birds have detailed brown and white feathers, and the plants around them are drawn with sharp lines. The artist used a mix of fine lines and shading to make the feathers look real. The colors are soft but precise, especially on the birds’ wings and the wet rocks. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this one carved and printed images.
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
See the richer artist page
