Artwork
Ruby-crowned Wren
Ruby-crowned Wren is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Havell, Jr., Robert. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ruby-crowned Wren is a hand-colored engraving and aquatint print created by Robert Havell Jr. in 1834 on Whatman wove paper. The piece showcases the artist's skill in combining engraving and aquatint techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print features two small birds, identified as likely ruby-crowned kinglets, perched on a tree branch amidst leaves and flowers. The depiction emphasizes naturalistic detail, with the birds' distinctive green plumage and red crowns prominently displayed.
Technique & Style
Havell Jr. utilized hand-colored engraving for line work and aquatint for tonal depth, leveraging his family's renowned expertise in aquatint. The color palette creates depth and texture, with shaded greens and browns for foliage, and vibrant pink for clustered flowers.
History & Provenance
Robert Havell Jr., from a family of engravers and artists in Reading, Berkshire, followed in his father's (Robert Havell the Elder) and uncle's (Luke Havell) footsteps. The 1834 work reflects the family's broader artistic and cultural contributions.
Context
While the piece's style aligns with meticulous natural history illustrations of its time, its aesthetic elements (e.g., expressive color use) touch on the broader Romantic movement's emphasis on nature and detail.
Legacy
As a representative of the Havell family's technical prowess in aquatint and engraving, Ruby-crowned Wren contributes to the historical record of 19th-century printmaking techniques and naturalist art.
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.
