Derbyan Parakeet
1808
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1808
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a bright green Derbyan parakeet perched on a branch. Its red beak and long tail stand out against the plain white background. The bird’s feathers look almost real, thanks to careful brushwork. This wasn’t painted in Europe. It’s one of many bird pictures made in China for British buyers in the 1700s. Back then, people loved exotic birds but rarely saw them alive. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection of natural history art.
