Evening Grosbeak and Spotted Grosbeak
1837
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1837
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows three brightly colored birds perched on thin branches. The top bird has black wings with white patches and a yellow chest. The middle bird is mostly orange and black, with a white stripe on its wing. The bottom pair includes a duller brown bird and a brighter orange one with yellow on its sides. A small butterfly floats near the middle bird. The artist used careful lines to show each feather and detail. The colors pop against the light background, making the birds look real. This style was common in scientific illustrations from that time. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
