The oriole
18th century
François Levaillant, a French explorer with a passion for African wildlife, brought this striking vulture to life in the late 18th century. Known as 'L'Oricou' (the Lappet-faced Vulture), the bird stands proudly on a mossy rock, sporting a vivid pink, featherless head and a sharp, hooked beak perfect for scavenging. This hand-colored engraving comes from his famous book 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique,' which helped introduce European audiences to the exotic birds of the continent. Levaillant was known for his adventurous (and sometimes controversial) methods of collecting specimens, often traveling deep into the African interior.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
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