Jacques Barraband (1767 - 1809)
Engravings with original hand color from “Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets”.
Paris, 1801-1805.
Paris: Levrault Frères, 1801-1805.
20 ¾ x 13 ¾ inches
Jacques Barraband’s engravings of birds are masterpieces of French ornithological illustration. These stunning portraits were done for the distinguished ornithologist Francois Levaillant, who commissioned the artist to illustrate his landmark works on African ornithology, including the lavish and striking Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets. This collaboration between Levaillant and Barraband represented a departure from previous ornithological texts in its emphasis on beauty and luxury. Each plate in the work is sumptuously colored and flawlessly rendered. The project was a massive undertaking, which required over 300 finished watercolors, some of which can be seen on the next page. The meticulous hand-colored engravings in Levaillant’s publications were unmatched for the delicate modulations of tone and color, fine lines and perfect draftsmanship, making them exceptional in their richness and tonal variation. Each feather is described by dozens of parallel lines, providing remarkable detail and naturalistically textured color. The present selection of images represents an opportunity to acquire spectacular engravings by a foremost 19th-century natural history artist.