1837
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Black-capped Titmouse and Chestnut-crowned Titmouse is a 1837 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows five small birds perched on branches and leaves. One bird sits in a woven nest, while the others cling to twigs or hover nearby. The colors are bright but natural—greens, browns, and soft blues—with careful attention to feathers and plant details. The birds are labeled with their names, like *Chestnut-backed Titmouse* and *Black-capped Titmouse*. This kind of precise, detailed work was meant to document nature accurately. Next, check out engraving to see how artists used metal plates and ink to create sharp, intricate images like this.
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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