Artwork
Bohemian Chatterer
Bohemian Chatterer is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Havell, Jr., Robert. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Bohemian Chatterer is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint print created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1837 on Whatman wove paper. The work showcases the artist's skill in depicting natural subjects with meticulous detail and vibrant coloring.
Subject & Meaning
The print features two birds perched on a branch adorned with green leaves and red berries.
The print features two birds perched on a branch adorned with green leaves and red berries. The birds, identified as 'Bohemian Chatterers' (a term used in the early 19th century), are rendered in distinct colors: one with a black body, yellow crest, and tail feathers, and the other with a gray head, brown back, and yellow-edged wings. Their slight divergence in direction adds a sense of dynamic interaction.
Technique & Style
Havell Jr. employed hand-colored engraving combined with aquatint to achieve the print's brightness and detail. This technique, characteristic of the Havell family's printmaking tradition, results in a highly realistic representation of the birds and their surroundings.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr. was part of a renowned family of engravers and etchers from Reading, Berkshire, with connections to Indian art and culture. His work, along with that of his relatives (including Robert Havell the Elder and Daniel Havell), was prominent in late 18th and early 19th-century printmaking and publishing.
Context
The piece reflects the early 19th-century interest in natural history and exotic species, often depicted in detailed, colorful prints for both scientific and aesthetic appeal. The use of 'Bohemian Chatterer' as a species name highlights the period's nomenclature and fascination with global fauna.
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Artist & collection
Artist
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
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