Open full image Pin

Hylocharis lactea (Sapphire-breasted Emerald)

H.C. Richter

1842

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Hylocharis lactea (Sapphire-breasted Emerald) is a 1842 ink by H.C. Richter, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: H.C. Richter
When & what style?: 1842 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a bright green hummingbird perched on a lily pad beside a yellow water lily. The bird’s chest shimmers with blue-green light, and its long beak points toward the flower. The background has soft greens and blues, with a tall plant on the right and a calm water surface below. The artist used careful colors to make the bird and flowers look almost alive. The name *Hylocharis lactea* is printed at the bottom, which is the bird’s scientific title. Next, look up lithography to see how this print was made.