1828
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Swainson's Warbler is a 1828 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a small bird perched on a branch with bright green leaves. The bird has yellow and gray feathers, and it’s sitting near acorns on a white oak branch. The background is plain, keeping all focus on the bird and leaves. The artist used fine lines to show details like the bird’s feathers and leaf veins. This was a common way to create precise images before photography. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists made sharp, detailed prints like this.
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
