Original Mid-19th-Century John Gould Hand-Colored Toucanet Lithograph

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An exceptional original 19th-century hand-colored lithograph from John Gould’s celebrated monograph on the toucan family, depicting a lively group of … Read more An exceptional original 19th-century hand-colored lithograph from John Gould’s celebrated monograph on the toucan family, depicting a lively group of green toucanets gathered around a branch. One bird is shown with prey held delicately in its vividly patterned bill, while the others rest below, creating an unusually animated and narrative composition.

This listing is for a single framed Gould Bird print but there are several more available in my Shop.

The birds are rendered in saturated shades of emerald, forest green, golden yellow, crimson, black, and pale blue. Their dramatically marked bills, glossy plumage, expressive eyes, and finely articulated feathers showcase the extraordinary naturalism associated with Gould’s large-format ornithological plates.

This work comes from A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans, originally issued in the 1830s and later expanded in the 1850s. Gould’s toucan plates were produced as large imperial-folio lithographs with original hand coloring and are among the most visually dramatic works in his ornithological oeuvre.

The lithograph is professionally presented beneath TruGuard UV-protective conservation glass, matching the conservation framing used throughout the collection. A generous pale celadon mat with fine hand-ruled detailing surrounds the image, while a slender gilt frame with decorative corner accents completes the refined presentation.

A striking and highly collectible addition to a library, study, dining room, living room, or curated gallery wall. It complements traditional, English country, Chinoiserie, Grand Tour, tropical, botanical, and collected interiors. See less