Artwork
Red-Eyed Vireo
Red-Eyed Vireo is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Havell, Jr., Robert. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Red-Eyed Vireo is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint print on Whatman wove paper, created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1832.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a red-eyed vireo perched on a branch with leaves and berries, a spider suspended above. The bird's open beak suggests it is singing. The image is a detailed study of the bird and its natural surroundings, identified by the text at the bottom.
Technique & Style
The print showcases precise reproductive techniques, with careful lines used to render the bird's feathers and the plant's details. The use of hand-colored engraving and aquatint allowed for a high level of detail and color accuracy.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr. came from a family of engravers and aquatint specialists, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. The Havell family's expertise in printmaking was notable, with connections to Indian art and culture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
- White-eyed Fly Catcher
Worm-eating Warbler
Kentucky Fly-catching Warbler
American Redstart
Autumnal Warbler
Boat-Tailed Grackle
Little Tyrant Flycatcher, Small-Headed Flycatcher, Blue Mountain Warbler, Bartram's Vireo, Short-Legged Pewee, and Rocky Mountain Flycatcher
Tennessee Warbler
American Crossbill
Connecticut Warbler
Yellow-billed Magpie, Stellers Jay, Ultramarine Jay and Clark's Crow
Swainson's Warbler