Tourterelle terrestre
1827-1838
John James Audubon refused to paint boring, stiff birds, so he often shot his subjects and posed them with wires to capture dramatic, lifelike action. In this plate from his famous 'Birds of America,' a family of Ground Doves flutters and perches on a Wild Orange branch, showcasing the males' rusty red plumage versus the females' subtle grey and brown tones. The text at the bottom helpfully labels the males, females, and young, acting like a 19th-century field guide. This specific print was engraved and hand-colored by Robert Havell, Audubon's primary publisher in London.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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