Artwork
Forked-tail Flycatcher
Forked-tail Flycatcher is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Havell, Jr., Robert. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work titled Forked‑tail Flycatcher is a hand‑colored print produced in 1833 by Robert Havell Jr.
About this work
Overview
The work titled Forked‑tail Flycatcher is a hand‑colored print produced in 1833 by Robert Havell Jr. Executed in engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper, the image presents a bird with a pronounced forked tail perched on a branch amid white flowers with yellow centres and green foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a small passerine distinguished by a black head, blue plumage, and an elongated, forked tail. The bird is rendered in profile, looking to the right, and is surrounded by stylised blossoms and leaves that emphasize its natural habitat and the delicate balance of flora and fauna.
Technique & Style
Havell employed a combination of line engraving and aquatint, a tonal method that allows for subtle gradations of colour. After printing, the image was hand‑coloured, enhancing the blue body and the yellow flower centres. The use of Whatman wove paper provides a smooth surface that supports fine detail and delicate shading.
History & Provenance
was the son of Robert Havell the Elder, part of a family renowned for their printmaking expertise, particularly in aquatint.
Robert Havell Jr. was the son of Robert Havell the Elder, part of a family renowned for their printmaking expertise, particularly in aquatint. The Havells maintained a long‑standing engagement with Indian artistic subjects, though this particular print depicts an Asian bird rather than a specific Indian scene. The print entered museum collections in the early twentieth century through a private donation.
Context
Created during the early nineteenth century, the print reflects the Romantic era’s fascination with nature and the exotic. Its precise naturalistic rendering aligns with contemporary scientific illustration, while the hand‑coloured finish adds an aesthetic quality typical of the period’s decorative prints.
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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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