Blue-headed Parrot – Pionus menstruus – Zwartoor-papegaai; G. Edwards; 1764

Description

Details

• Type: natural history print, ornithology
• Title: The Blue-Headed Parrot. Plate 314
• Technique: cupper engraving, contemporary coloured
• Illustrator: George Edwards
• Engraver: George Edwards
• Author: George Edwards
• Date: 1764
• Published in:Gleanings of Natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, insects (..). Part 3 by George Edwards in London
• Size print: 23.5 x 19.0 cm (9.3 x 7.5 inches)
• Size paper: 30.3 x 23.5 cm (11.9 x 9.3 inches)
• Verso: blank
• ID: M140 V
• Source: Nissen 286

Condition

Very good, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Beautiful print with vivid original coloring.

Zeer goed, voor een gravure van deze leeftijd. Een enkel vlekje in beeld. Scherpe afdruk met fraaie originele inkleuring.

Backgrounds

We proudly offer a selection of bird prints from A Natural History of Uncommon Birds (1743-1751) and Gleaning of Natural History (1758-1764) by George Edwards. Initially published as two separate works, they are now considered as one, with 362 plates in all, with 318 of birds & the balance of various mammals, fish & insects. It was heralded as the most important of all Bird Books, both from an artistic and an ornithological perspective, and time has certainly not dimmed either its luster or appeal.

George Edwards (1694 – 1773) was an English draughtsman and a skilled observer of birds. He was one of the most prominent ornithologists of his day. He worked as Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians, where he was later elected a fellow, and was honored with the Gold Medal of the Royal Society. As the Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians, he oversaw a library of 8,000 volumes. The small honorarium he received for this post liberated him to pursue his ornithological studies and drawings.

In Natural History and Gleanings many foreign species were illustrated for the first time. Often drawn from live specimens held in captivity in London. Edwards etched his own plates and then hand colored several copies before supervising others in the coloring. The result is a work of superb skill and breathtaking color that remains ever popular and is now increasingly rare. Such was the impact of Natural History and Gleanings, that Edwards is considered to have almost single-handedly popularized the art of bird and animal illustration, and is thus known as The Father of British Ornithology’.

George Edwards (1694 1773) was een Engelse tekenaar en een ervaren waarnemer van vogels. Hij was één van de meest vooraanstaande ornithologen van zijn tijd. Hij werkte als bibliothecaris bij het Royal College of Physicians waar hij later werd verkozen tot medelid. Hij werd geëerd met de Gold Medal of the Royal Society. Als bibliothecaris van het Royal College of Physicians hield hij toezicht op een bibliotheek van 8.000 volumes. Het kleine honorarium dat hij voor deze functie ontving gaf hem de ruimte om zijn ornithologische studies en tekeningen te kunnen maken, kleuren en uitgeven.