Audubon Aquatint, Ruby-Throated Humming Bird
AUDUBON, John James (1785 - 1851).
Ruby-Throated Humming Bird, Plate 47.
Aquatint engraving with original hand color.
London: Robert Havell, 1827-1838.
38 5/8 x 25 1/2 sheet.
Provenance: From the John Painter Vicker's Collection.
Comparable: Christie's, 2004 - $59,750; Arader Galleries, 2019 - $43,750.
The finest image of a hummingbird ever published, wth exceptionally fine color.
"No sooner has the returning sun again introduced the vernal season, and caused millions of plants to expand their leaves and blossoms to his genial beams, than the little Humming-bird is seen advancing on fairy wings, carefully visiting every opening flower-cup, and, like a curious florist, removing from each the injurious insects that otherwise would ere long cause their beauteous petals to droop and decay. Poised in the air, it is observed peeping cautiously, and with sparkling eye, into their innermost recesses, whilst the ethereal motions of its pinions, so rapid and so light, appear to fan and cool the flower, without injuring its fragile texture, and produce a delightful murmuring sound, well adapted for lulling the insects to repose. Then is the moment for the Humming-bird to secure them. Its long delicate bill enters the cup of the flower, and the protruded double-tubed tongue, delicately sensible, and imbued with a glutinous saliva, touches each insect in succession, and draws it from its lurking place, to be instantly swallowed. All this is done in a moment, and the bird, as it leaves the flower, sips so small a portion of its liquid honey, that the theft, we may suppose, is looked upon with a grateful feeling by the flower, which is thus kindly relieved from the attacks of her destroyers." - Audubon's Ornithological Biography.
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AUDUBON, John James (1785 - 1851).
Ruby-Throated Humming Bird, Plate 47.
Aquatint engraving with original hand color.
London: Robert Havell, 1827-1838.
38 5/8 x 25 1/2 sheet.
Provenance: From the John Painter Vicker's Collection.
Comparable: Christie's, 2004 - $59,750; Arader Galleries, 2019 - $43,750.
The finest image of a hummingbird ever published, wth exceptionally fine color.
"No sooner has the returning sun again introduced the vernal season, and caused millions of plants to expand their leaves and blossoms to his genial beams, than the little Humming-bird is seen advancing on fairy wings, carefully visiting every opening flower-cup, and, like a curious florist, removing from each the injurious insects that otherwise would ere long cause their beauteous petals to droop and decay. Poised in the air, it is observed peeping cautiously, and with sparkling eye, into their innermost recesses, whilst the ethereal motions of its pinions, so rapid and so light, appear to fan and cool the flower, without injuring its fragile texture, and produce a delightful murmuring sound, well adapted for lulling the insects to repose. Then is the moment for the Humming-bird to secure them. Its long delicate bill enters the cup of the flower, and the protruded double-tubed tongue, delicately sensible, and imbued with a glutinous saliva, touches each insect in succession, and draws it from its lurking place, to be instantly swallowed. All this is done in a moment, and the bird, as it leaves the flower, sips so small a portion of its liquid honey, that the theft, we may suppose, is looked upon with a grateful feeling by the flower, which is thus kindly relieved from the attacks of her destroyers." - Audubon's Ornithological Biography.
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