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Virginia Rail

Robert Havell Jr.

1834

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Animal

Dominant colour

Virginia Rail is a 1834 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Robert Havell Jr.
When & what style?: 1834 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows three birds in a marshy setting. The birds have long, pointed beaks and brown feathers with lighter bellies. They're standing on rocks and grasses near water. One bird is looking up at a bug on a blade of grass. The birds are the main focus, but the background is detailed too. You can see the texture of the rocks and the way the light reflects off the water. The colors are muted, with lots of greens and browns. The artist, Havell, Jr., Robert, did a great job capturing the birds' personalities. If you want to see more of his work, check out the Romanticism movement.