1836
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Long-tailed Duck is a 1836 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows three long-tailed ducks in a natural setting. The male duck stands on a rock, its brown and white feathers glowing against the gray stone. The female duck sits nearby, her plumage muted in earthy tones. Below, two ducklings swim in calm water, their small bodies blending with the greenish-blue waves. The artist used fine lines to show the texture of feathers and water, making the birds look almost real. The background is simple—a quiet lake with distant hills—so the focus stays on the ducks. Next, look up *engraving* to see how artists like this one carved detailed images into metal plates.
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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