Phaethornis pygmaeus (Little Hermit).

• Price: $500.00
  

  SKU: 64000

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• ARTIST: John Gould

• PUBLISHER: Published in London.

• MEDIUM: Lithograph handcolored,

  DATE: 1849-87.

• EDITION SIZE: Average paper size 21 x 14" (53.4 x 35.4 cm).

• DESCRIPTION: From A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds, 6 vols., large folio. Published in London, 1849–1887. Printed by Hullmandel and Walter from drawings by J. Gould, H. C. Richter, and William Hart, lithographed by the artists. The Little Hermit is one of the smallest hummingbirds in Gould’s Trochilidae series, noted for its delicate form, short tail, and slender decurved bill. Its subdued brown and olive tones are enlivened by a soft golden sheen, which Gould’s hand-colorists rendered with remarkable subtlety. In the lithograph, the bird is shown feeding from a cluster of pendent blossoms, its minute size accentuated by the surrounding tropical foliage. The careful use of metallic pigment gives the plate a quiet iridescence, capturing the understated beauty and gentle motion of this diminutive forest dweller. John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae remains a landmark of nineteenth-century natural history art. Spanning nearly forty years, the work combined Gould’s scientific precision with the artistic mastery of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The Little Hermit plate exemplifies their shared pursuit of elegance and accuracy—transforming one of the smallest members of the hummingbird family into a timeless image of grace, detail, and vitality.

• ADDITIONAL INFO: This piece is in a 15 x 23 inch archival mylar for handling.

• CONDITION: Good condition with original color.

• REFERENCE:

• CATEGORIES: 18th-19th Century Subjects , Natural History - Birds , John Gould - Hummingbirds