1837
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Burgomaster Gull is a 1837 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two gulls perched on a rough log and rocks. One gull is mostly white with gray wings, standing upright. The other gull has a mix of brown and white feathers, with a yellow beak, and is resting with its wings slightly open. The artist used careful shading to show the texture of the birds’ feathers and the wood beneath them. This kind of detail was common in scientific illustrations from the time. Look up engraving to see how artists like this one created sharp, precise 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
