1837
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
MacGillivray's Finch is a 1837 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two small birds perched on tall grass. Above them float two butterflies with delicate wings. The birds have brown and white feathers, and the grass is drawn with sharp, thin lines. The colors are soft but clear—greens, browns, and muted yellows. The text at the bottom names the birds *MacGillivray’s Finch*. The whole scene looks carefully observed, like a scientist’s sketchbook. The artist used a mix of lines and shading to build up the details. 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.
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