Nashville Warbler
1830
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1830
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Nashville Warbler is a 1830 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two small yellow-green birds perched on a branch heavy with bright red berries and glossy green leaves. The birds face opposite directions, one looking up, the other down, as if surveying their surroundings. The berries and leaves are drawn with careful detail, making the branch look full and lively. The artist used a mix of fine lines and shading to create texture, especially in the feathers and leaves. This was a common way to add depth before color was applied by hand. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one used metal plates to print detailed images.
