1834
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Fresh Water Marsh Hen is a 1834 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows two birds standing in tall, wavy marsh grass. One bird is mostly brown with a long neck and a red eye, while the other is lighter with pinkish feathers. The background is a mix of dark water and green reeds, making the birds look like they’re in a wetland. The artist used careful lines and shading to show the birds’ feathers in detail. This kind of close-up drawing was often used in old nature books to teach people about animals. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints before photography.
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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