Large Green Parrot of the West Indies, 1749, Engraving on Paper

Details

Description

This is an 18th-century hand-colored engraving from Johann Michael Seligmann's collection, displaying a parrot species. Here’s the transcription and translation … Read more This is an 18th-century hand-colored engraving from Johann Michael Seligmann's collection, displaying a parrot species. Here’s the transcription and translation of the visible text: - "Der große grüne Papagey, aus West-Indien." - This is German for "The large green parrot from the West Indies." - "Tab. LVII." - This refers to "Table 57," indicating the plate number in the collection. - "Psittacus viridis major, Occidentalis. N:o 87./VII.Heft." - The Latin phrase can be translated to "The larger green parrot of the West, number 87, volume VII." - "Le Grand Perroquet Vert des Indes Occidentales." - In French, this translates to "The large green parrot of the West Indies." The image shows a vibrantly colored parrot, predominantly green with yellow and orange feather highlights and touches of blue on the tips of the wings and tail. The parrot is depicted perched on a gnarled branch, suggesting a tropical setting that is consistent with its West Indies origin. The level of detail in the feathers and the realistic posture of the parrot are indicative of the meticulous work of Seligmann and the natural history artists of that era, who combined artistic skill with scientific observation. The inclusion of the plant life in the engraving provides context for the natural habitat of the bird. Such illustrations were important for documenting and sharing knowledge of exotic species with European audiences who might not have the opportunity to see such creatures in person. See less