1827
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Great Footed Hawk is a 1827 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a great footed hawk perched on a branch. Its sharp talons grip the wood while its chest feathers puff up against the cold. The artist used fine lines to catch every feather edge. The print mixes two techniques. First, a metal plate was engraved with lines. Then it was inked and pressed onto paper. Finally, someone hand-painted color over it. If you like this style, look up engraving, cross-hatching.
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
