Red-Headed Yellow-Bodied Bird and White-Tailed Hummingbird: Hand-Coloured, 1773

Reference
BG-13944
Date
1773
Category
Natural History Print
Sheet size
37.0 x 25.0 cm (14.6 x 9.8 in)
Availability
Available
Price
EUR 690

This is a hand-colored copper engraving by Johann Michael Seligmann, derived from the work of George Edwards, and is part of the *Sammlung verschiedener ausländischer und seltener Vögel* (Collection of Various Foreign and Rare Birds), published in Nuremberg between 1770 and 1773.

The title, "Der Rothkopf mit gelbem Leib und das Colibrichen mit weissem Schwanz" (The Red-Headed Bird with Yellow Body and the Hummingbird with White Tail), refers to the two exotic bird species depicted.

The engraving illustrates:

1. The Red-Headed Yellow-Bodied Bird (*Avicula lutea vertice rubro*), a striking bird with a red crown and yellow body with some red markings on its chest. 2. The Hummingbird with White Tail (*Melivora cauda alba*), with a curved beak, a mix of brown and red plumage, and a distinctive white tail.

The Latin and French descriptions indicate the species’ colors and distinguishing features. Seligmann’s technique combines copperplate engraving with meticulous hand-coloring, enhancing the vibrant details of each bird. This print exemplifies the era's fascination with documenting exotic avian species.

Where this sits in the catalogue


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