Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Robert Havell died in 1878; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1948.
In context
Black Skimmer — Robert Havell
Row above: the year. Row below: the artist's age in that year.
Shaded: the lifetime of Robert Havell (1793–1878)
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/robert-havell-black-skimmer-8CEGJU-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Phthalo Green #181b25
Catalogued palette
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 57.2% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 192 works by this artist, of which 40 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 11 of them, with 2.1% of that attention.
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Reading, United Kingdom
Robert Havell (1793-1878) was a renowned English engraver, etcher, and painter. Born in Reading, Berkshire, England, he came from a family deeply rooted in the arts. His father, Robert Havell the Elder, was also an accomplished engraver and publisher. The Havell family boasted numerous artists, writers, publishers, educators, and musicians, providing young Robert with an environment rich in creative stimulation.
Growing up within such a creatively inclined family, Havell was exposed to art from a very early age. He received his initial training from his father, mastering the techniques of engraving and etching. This foundational education proved crucial for his later success. His artistic style developed with a keen attention to detail and an ability to capture the essence of his subjects.
Havell is most famously known for his pivotal role in producing The Birds of America by John James Audubon. Between 1827 and 1838, he served as the engraver and publisher of this monumental work. This collaboration showcased Havell’s exceptional skill in aquatint – a technique involving etching designs onto copper plates to create tonal variations. The sheer scale and ambition of The Birds of America cemented both Audubon's and Havell’s reputations.
Havell’s artistic style was characterized by precision, detail, and a sensitivity to the natural world. While best known for his aquatints of Audubon’s birds, he also created landscapes and portraits demonstrating his versatility as an artist. Some notable works include his engraving of “A Battle,” which highlights his mastery of composition and technique. Other significant pieces include:
A View of Poughkeepsie
Hudson River Valley Landscape
Wild Turkey
Windsor Castle
Attack on Fort Oswego, Lake Ontario, N. America
Havell’s work reflects an interest in both the natural world and historical events. His collaboration with Audubon clearly demonstrates a fascination with ornithology and wildlife. He also showed an appreciation for Indian art and culture, which subtly influenced his aesthetic sensibilities. The Hudson River School movement, with its emphasis on romantic landscapes, also appears to have impacted his landscape paintings.
Robert Havell Jr. died in London in 1878, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the foremost practitioners of aquatint engraving. His meticulous work on The Birds of America remains a testament to his skill and dedication. He played an integral role in popularizing American wildlife art and contributed significantly to the development of printmaking techniques during the 19th century. Today, his works are celebrated by art lovers worldwide and can be found in prominent collections, including those available at AllPaintingsStore.com.
originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/robert-havell-black-skimmer-8CEGJU-en/
Look closely
Black Skimmer — Robert Havell
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Hand-painted copies of "Black Skimmer" by Robert Havell are sold on this website: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, ordered from this page.
A print of "Black Skimmer" by Robert Havell can be ordered directly on this page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.
"Black Skimmer" was created by Robert Havell. The information on this page describes Robert Havell's original work.
"Black Skimmer" by Robert Havell is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This status governs how the image of the work may be reproduced.
phthalo green (#181b25) is the leading color of "Black Skimmer" by Robert Havell.
Works similar to "Black Skimmer" are listed on the artwork's Similars page.
A digital image of "Black Skimmer" by Robert Havell can be purchased on this page: a high-resolution digital image download.