1836
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Green Heron is a 1836 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows two birds and a flower in bright colors. One bird has dark feathers with a red neck and a sharp beak, perched mid-air. The other bird is brown with white spots on its wings, standing on a rock. Behind them, a yellow flower with red edges grows among green leaves and reeds. The ground has scattered acorns and rocks. The artist used careful lines to make the feathers and leaves look real. The colors are flat but vivid, like a printed book illustration. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
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
