1838
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Havell's Tern and Trudeau's Tern is a 1838 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, depicting Seascap, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows two terns side by side, Havell’s Tern on the left and Trudeau’s Tern on the right. The birds stand on simple lines that suggest grass. The artist colored them in soft browns and whites, so they look almost real. The artist used aquatint and engraving to make shadows and textures. Tiny cross-hatched lines give the feathers detail without blurring. It’s a quiet trick that makes the birds feel alive. Watch how the shadows under the feet sit just right. If you like this, check out more by Havell, Jr., Robert.
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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