Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, Cedar Waxwing, Original Handcolored Print

Details

Description

This is a handcolored antique print titled 'Le Jaseur du Cédre', featuring the cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), known for its … Read more This is a handcolored antique print titled 'Le Jaseur du Cédre', featuring the cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), known for its sleek appearance and sociable nature. The bird is rendered in exquisite detail, perched on a branch in profile, with its distinctive crest and black mask clearly visible. The warm, subtle blend of browns and grays on its body, along with the bright yellow band on the tail and the iconic red wax-like tips on the wings, are illustrated with a naturalistic precision. Beneath the illustration, the title 'Le Jaseur du Cédre', 'Bombycilla cedrorum. pl. 57' provides the bird's French and Latin names, and the plate number within the publication. The names 'Pretre pinx', 'Langlois sculp.', and 'Bouquet' acknowledge the painter, engraver, and colorist or printer of the image, tying it to the notable work 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de l'Amerique Septentrionale' by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, dated around 1807. The condition of the print shows the expected foxing and age-related yellowing, characteristics that are often cherished by collectors for their testament to the print's authenticity and age. These elements do not overshadow the artwork, which remains vibrant and captivating, allowing the cedar waxwing’s charming features to continue to delight and inform viewers as intended by the ornithological studies of Vieillot, who was instrumental in shifting the study of birds to a focus on living behaviors and habitats. See less