18th Century Watercolors of Birds by Abraham Van Meertens (1747-1823) - Set of 4

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These four exquisite watercolors were hand-painted by Abraham Van Meertens (1747-1823), a celebrated figure of 18th century Dutch art. Meertens … Read more These four exquisite watercolors were hand-painted by Abraham Van Meertens (1747-1823), a celebrated figure of 18th century Dutch art. Meertens was born in Middleberg, where he founded and directed the Middleberg Drawing Academy. The fine watercolors on Antique Laid paper reflect the Enlightenment's fascination with the natural world and the artist's precise observations, probably based on specimens captured for fashionable royal menageries, such as the collection of Prince Willem V.

This set of four includes two waterbirds: the Great Crested Grebe and the Common Murre or Guillmot. The Grebe, known for its elaborate mating displays, is rendered with exceptional attention to its colorful mating plumage, long neck and thick feet while the Murre, standing at the edge of a cliff, is rendered in its crisp non-mating black and white pattern and seems to be preparing to take off from the colony to fly over the sea for the rest of the year. Meerten's mastery of watercolor technique may be seen in the wet-on-wet technique used to depict the birds' waterproof feathers.

This set includes two captivating portraits of a Little Owl and a Long-eared Owl, which is especially expressive: its characteristic erect ear tufts signal size and agression. The Little Owl is depicted with an intense gaze typical of the species. The painter's layering of brown and ochre washes brings the softeness of their plumage to life, making them seem three-dimensional.

Each watercolor is archivally matted on acid free paper in a dark green and cream mat that measures 19 3/4 inches by 13 1/2 inches.

The painted area of each watercolor varies slightly in size, ranging from 16 7/8 inches x 10 5/8 inches to 17 3/8 inches x 11 inches.

The artworks may be purchased unframed, or framed in wood with UV glass, as shown in the photos for the purpose of illustration, according to your choice of Larson Juhl frames made to order to match your decor.

Please contact us for framing details and online examples. (Allow 2 weeks for custom framing and a higher price if you choose a specialty frame, such as gold leaf.)

While these watercolors are offered and priced as a set of four, they may be sold separately upon request. Each is guaranteed authentic and has been stamped for export, as required. See less