Print (Aquatint)

  • Title:

    The Bird of Washington,/ OR/ GREAT AMERICAN SEA EAGLE/ Falco Washingtoniensis..........Male.

  • Category:

    Prints and Maps

  • Creator (Role):

    Robert Havell Jr. (Engraver)

    Robert Havell Sr. (Printer and colorist)

    John James Audubon (Designer, draftsman, and publisher)

  • Place of Origin:

    London, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

  • Secondary Place of Origin:

    New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, South, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1830-1839

  • Materials:

    Ink; Watercolor; Paper (wove)

  • Techniques:

    Aquatint, Etched, Hand colored, Painted

  • Museum Object Number:

    1959.0162.008


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1959.0162.008

Object Name

Print (Aquatint)

Title

The Bird of Washington,/ OR/ GREAT AMERICAN SEA EAGLE/ Falco Washingtoniensis..........Male.

Category

Prints and Maps

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Mrs. G. Brooks Thayer

Creator (Role)

Robert Havell Jr. (Engraver)
1793-1878
Engraver, printer, and colorist for many of the plates of Audubon's Birds of America.

Robert Havell Sr. (Printer and colorist)
1769-1832
By April 1818, it was apparent that Robert Havell Jr. had joined the family business, with the first appearance of a print with the engraver's credit to Robert Havell and Son. By 1822 his younger brother George Havell (1797-1823) was taking on letterpress printing jobs and sharing space in the family premises at 3 Chapel Street. A third sibling, Henry Augustus Havell, later played a central role in the production of The Birds of America. He would often be called upon to work up the outline etchings, to color the "pattern prints" to be used as guides for the teams of colorists employed in the project, and to oversee their work. ... With Audubon's project as the impetus, Robert Havell Jr. consented to reestablish the partnership with his father. They agreed that he would undertake the engraving of the plates, with his father to supervise their printing and coloring. For the first year or so of their collaboration, there were problems with the colorists under the elder Havell's supervision. However, by June 1828 Robert Havell Sr. had retired, and the partnership was officially dissolved. (Source: Joseph Goddu, "The Making of Audubon: The Birds of America" Antiques Magazine, (November 2002).)

John James Audubon (Designer, draftsman, and publisher)
04/26/1785-01/27/1851
Works include Birds of America (1827-38) and Vivaparus Quadrupeds of North America (1845-51).

Place of Origin

London, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Origin Notes

Plate engraved, printed and colored by the Havells in London.

Secondary Place of Origin

New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, South, United States, North America

Secondary Origin Notes

Audubon wrote on painting: "Sea Eagle Falco Ossifragus." and "New Orleans 1822".

Date

1830-1839

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Bottom left beneath image; Drawn from Nature by John J. Audubon. F.R.S.E. M.W.S.
2. Inscription ; Bottom right beneath image; Engraved by R. Havell, Jun.\r
3. Inscription; Bottom right beneath image; Printed & Coloured by R. Havell, Sen.\r

Subjects

Zoological illustration

Materials

Ink; Watercolor; Paper (wove)

Techniques

Aquatint, Etched, Hand colored, Painted

Dimensions (inches)

38.3 (H) , 25.2 (W) , 36.9 (Image H) , 23.5 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

97.2 (H) , 64 (W) , 36.9 (Image H) , 23.5 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

Unable to determine platemark.

Publisher Summary

Audubon, John James

Place of Publication

London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

State

I

Watermark

"J WHATMAN 1850"

Coloring

Hand colored with watercolors

Edition Notes

From the first edition double-elephant folio of John James Audubon, The Birds of America (London: J. J. Audubon, 1827-39). Plate legend varies. The variant legend is: N.\o 3. PLATE, XI./ Bird of Washington FALCO WASHINGTONII. Aud, Male./ Engraved Printed & Colored by R. Havell.

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc. & The Walpole Society. 1963 Prints pertaining to America: a list of publications in English, relating to prints about that portion of America now included in the United States with emphasis on the period 1650-1850: and a checklist of prints in an exhibition to commemorate the 1962. 99 p.
Published: no. 85, pp. 37-38.
[Book] Low, Susanne M. 2002 A Guide to Audubon's Birds of America.
Plate listed on p. 35.