1835
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Great White Heron is a 1835 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a large white heron standing on a rocky shore, its long neck stretched out and beak open. It has caught a fish in its beak, which is pink with yellow fins. The heron's legs are long and yellow, and it has sharp claws. In the background, there is a body of water with a town on the other side. The sky is blue with dark clouds. The heron is the main focus of the painting, and it is depicted in great detail. The artist has used a range of colors to show the texture of the heron's feathers and the shine on its beak. The background is more subdued, with muted colors that don't distract from the heron. This painting is a great example of Romanticism, a movement that emphasized emotion and nature. To learn more about this style, look up the Romanticism movement.
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
