American Sparrow Hawk
1832
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1832
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
American Sparrow Hawk is a 1832 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows three birds perched on a branch with green leaves and small fruits. The bird on the left has speckled brown and white feathers and a red patch on its head. Above it, another bird has striped brown wings and a white chest, while the third bird below has bold black-and-brown markings and a bright orange beak. The artist used careful lines to show each feather and leaf, making the birds look almost real. This kind of detailed work was common in nature prints from the 1800s. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made precise prints before photography.
