
The Purple Jack Daw (Gracula Quiscula)
Catesby, Mark · English
published 1731-1743
- Medium
- etching and engraving with hand coloring on laid paper
- Classification
- Period
- 1726 to 1750
- Image size
- 4557 × 3453px
Description
This is a painting of a purple bird perched on a rock. The image depicts a bird with dark plumage standing on a small, rocky mound scattered with patches of greenery. The bird's beak is open, and its eye is highlighted. The brushstrokes illustrate the texture of its feathers, while the rock beneath is shaded in warm earth tones, accentuated by small areas of plant life sprouting around it. The background is a plain, light color, allowing focus on the detailed rendering of the bird itself.
Rights & Source
Open access image from the National Gallery of Art, released under its open access program. Metadata via the NGA Open Data Program (CC0).