1829
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Great Horned Owl is a 1829 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This owl looks like it’s perched on a bare branch, its feathers detailed with soft browns and whites. Its big round eyes glow yellow, and the feathers on its head stand up like horns. The background is mostly plain, letting the owl take center stage. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show texture—almost like stitching in the feathers. This kind of careful drawing was common in old scientific books. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made 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.
See the richer artist page
