1835
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Red Phalarope is a 1835 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows three birds called Red Phalaropes in a natural setting. One is flying mid-air with its wings spread wide, while the other two stand or rest on rocks by the water’s edge. The flying bird has brown and white feathers, and the ones on the ground show off bright orange chest feathers and long, thin legs. The background has a calm water scene with distant hills and some grassy land. The artist used careful details to show how these birds look in nature. Notice how the feathers and colors are precise—even the tiny markings on the wings. Want to learn more? Check out the technique: engraving, cross-hatching.
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
See the richer artist page
