1836
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Yellow-breasted Rail is a 1836 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows a bird with brown and black feathers perched on a rock by the water. Tall reeds sway in the foreground, and a calm lake stretches into the background with trees along the shore. The sky is soft and pale, while the bird’s wings and chest have warm, earthy tones. The artist used fine lines to show texture in the feathers and grass, making everything look detailed. The name at the bottom says it’s a "Yellow-breasted Rail," a bird drawn from life. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists create 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
