Cacciamosche di Selby
1827-1838
John James Audubon’s *Selby’s Flycatcher* is a stunning example of 19th-century natural history illustration, plucked straight from his legendary *The Birds of America*. Notice how the tiny, vibrant yellow bird clings delicately to a slender plant stem topped with deep red flowers? Audubon was famous for shooting birds with fine shot to preserve their feathers, then wiring them into dramatic, lifelike poses before sketching. This particular plate, engraved by W.H. Lizars in Edinburgh, showcases Audubon’s obsession with capturing birds in their natural habitats—though he often took artistic liberties with the background flora. It’s a beautiful blend of scientific precision and artistic flair that helped define American ornithological art.
- Technique
- hand-colored engraving
- Material
- paper