19th Century Hand Colored Lithograph of Hummingbirds by John Gould and H.C. Richter

Fine Art : Printmaking

 

Submitted for your consideration is a gorgeous hand colored lithograph of the Star-Frontlet (Helianthea Typica) by John Gould, a man known as the Audubon of Great Britain. The son of a gardener at Windsor Castle, Gould was a self-taught artist and naturalist. His bird prints were issued in unbound parts to subscribers only, and due to the labor-intensive nature of their production, only wealthy individuals and institutions could afford them. Gould’s monographs of hummingbirds, toucans, and birds of Great Britain, New Guinea, and Australia are among his most popular works. His hummingbirds are particularly decorative, with the inclusion of exotic flowers of the birds’ habitats and the highlighting of the birds’ iridescent plumage with gold leaf under the hand color and heightened with gum Arabic. His collaborator on this particular artwork was H.C. Richter, who along with Gould’s wife Elizabeth was often a partner in his majestic creations. This mid nineteenth century print was produced at the shop of Hullmandel and Walton.

Please note the absolute beauty of this detailed print. Three Star-Frontlet birds are depicted. One bird is shown resting upon a leaf, while the other two are depicted with their wings spread, one drawing nectar and the other in flight. The colors of both the birds and the foliage are magnificent. The feathers of the hummingbirds have the lush traditional iridescence of Gould’s work. The tropical flowers are shown in all of their glory, delicate blossoms sprouting from thick foliage.

This print is one of the most valuable in the series, selling on the Web for as much as $5500.00. This particular one is in good condition. It measures 14.25" by 21", it has some foxing and some water damage as shown in the photographs, and the piece is unframed. Happily, the majority of these imperfections occur around the border and may be covered with an attractive matte. Placed in a proper conservation frame this marvelous work would be stunning in appearance and would complement the décor of the most elegant of homes. Thanks to a savvy purchase we can offer this piece at an incredible discounted price of only $1750.00. The buyer may wish to peruse the other Gould Hummingbird prints that we are currently showcasing in our store.

Item ID: RL-5564