Johann Michael Seligmann, The Black-Bellied Green Hummingbird & The Kingfisher of Suriname with a Swallow's Tail, 1700s, Oil on Canvases, Set of 2

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This elegant pair of canvases belongs to the celebrated collection of Johann Michael Seligmann (1717–1762), a German engraver and naturalist … Read more This elegant pair of canvases belongs to the celebrated collection of Johann Michael Seligmann (1717–1762), a German engraver and naturalist who reproduced and disseminated the illustrations of George Edwards (1694–1773), considered the "father of modern ornithology." The scenes depict, in great detail, two of his most renowned studies: "The Surinam Kingfisher with a Swallowtail" (1749) and "The Black-bellied Green Hummingbird" (1749–1773). The compositions are notable both for their scientific accuracy in representing the birds and for their delicate artistic quality, characteristics that make these pieces a valuable testament to the encounter between art and science during the Enlightenment. See less