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The 100 Most Famous Robert Havell Paintings, Each One of a Kind
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 195 works by Robert Havell in our catalogue
In short
Virginian Partridge is the Robert Havell painting that draws the most eyes. After it, the eye goes to American White Pelican and Blue Jay. Among the 195 works of Robert Havell in our catalog, these 100 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
1793 – 1878, Reading
Hudson river school
Most works: Minneapolis Institute of Art
Top 10 paintings by Robert Havell, through the gallery's eye
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Robert Havell's famous paintings, numbers 11 to 100
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Black and White Creeper
12
The Williams House, Deerfield, Massachusetts
13
Hooping Crane
14
Lilium candidum
15
Prairie Warbler
16
Brunnich's Murre
17
Frigate Pelican
18
Amaryllis picta
19
Lilium pyrenaicum
20
Lilium longiflorum
21
Pancratium calathinum
22
Nerine aurea
23
Amaryllis miniata
24
Amaryllis Formosissima
25
Crinum ornatum
26
Amaryllis belladonna
27
Amaryllis stilosa
28
Amaryllis solandriflora varMusee National du Chateau de Compiegne
29
Panoramic view of New York (taken from the North River)
30
Pigeon Hawk, Male
31
Lilium canadense
32
Amaryllis aulica
33
Pancratium amancaes
34
Amaryllis Harrisoni
35
Pancratium amboinense
36
Lilium Japonicum
37
Griffinia hyacinthina
38![Crinum zeylanicum [Ceylon swamplily, Milk-and wine lily] by Robert Havell](/media/artworks/images-thumb/a1/4b/a14b42bc4511530290b07be5bf884810.jpg)
Crinum zeylanicum [Ceylon swamplily, Milk-and wine lily]
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Lilium pomponium, Lilium chalcedonicum, Lilium martagon varieties
40
Crinum scabrum
41
Crinum yuccæides
42
Crinum erubescens
43
Amaryllis longifolia (glauca)
44
Amaryllis steilatafolia
45
Ameryllis superba (vittata)
46
Amaryllis pulverulenta, Hippeastrum pulverulentum, Amaryllis acuminata
47
Amaryllis crocata - Papilio nestor branil
48
1. Zephyranthes carinatus. 2. Zephyranthes rosea.
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1. Zephyranthes tubispatha 2. Zephyranthes Candida
50
Savannah Finch
51
Great blue Heron
52
Herring Gull
53
Cat Bird
54
Red-eyed Vireo
55
Purple Martin
56
Passenger Pigeon
57
Olive sided Flycatcher
58
Ruddy Duck
59
Maryland Yellow Throat
60
Gannet
61
Kentucky Warbler. Male
62
EIDER DUCK
63
Columbia Jay
64
Field Sparrow
65
Cardinal GrosbeakFries Museum
66
Great horned-Owl
67
American Goldfinch
68
Winter Hawk
69
Black Warrior
70
Yellow-throated Vireo
71
Yellow Bird or American Goldfinch
72
Purple Heron
73
Arctic Tern
74
Swallow-tailed Hawk
75
Pancratium amænum
76
Trumpeter Swan 1
77
Iceland or Jer Falcon
78
Winter Wren. Rock Wren
79
Pancratium specidsum
80
Amaryllis vittata
81
Yellow Red-poll Warbler
82
Rough-legged Falcon
83
Curlew Sandpiper
84
Yellow Crowned Heron
85
Whip-poor-will
86
Great White Heron
87
Black Vulture or Carrion Crow
88
Golden-eye Duck
89
The Mocking Bird
90
Red Tailed HawkYale University Art Gallery
91
Brown Pelican
92
Barred Owl
93
Le Petit Corporal
94
THE FALLS
95
Ruffed Grouse
96
PANORAMIC VIEW OF VENICE
97
Great Marbled Godwit
98
Crinum declinatum
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American Flamingo
100
Summer or Wood Duck
Black and White Creeper
12The Williams House, Deerfield, Massachusetts
13Hooping Crane
14Lilium candidum
15Prairie Warbler
16Brunnich's Murre
17Frigate Pelican
18Amaryllis picta
19Lilium pyrenaicum
20Lilium longiflorum
21Pancratium calathinum
22Nerine aurea
23Amaryllis miniata
24Amaryllis Formosissima
25Crinum ornatum
26Amaryllis belladonna
27Amaryllis stilosa
28Amaryllis solandriflora varMusee National du Chateau de Compiegne
29Panoramic view of New York (taken from the North River)
30Pigeon Hawk, Male
31Lilium canadense
32Amaryllis aulica
33Pancratium amancaes
34Amaryllis Harrisoni
35Pancratium amboinense
36Lilium Japonicum
37Griffinia hyacinthina
38Crinum zeylanicum [Ceylon swamplily, Milk-and wine lily]
39Lilium pomponium, Lilium chalcedonicum, Lilium martagon varieties
40Crinum scabrum
41Crinum yuccæides
42Crinum erubescens
43Amaryllis longifolia (glauca)
44Amaryllis steilatafolia
45Ameryllis superba (vittata)
46Amaryllis pulverulenta, Hippeastrum pulverulentum, Amaryllis acuminata
47Amaryllis crocata - Papilio nestor branil
481. Zephyranthes carinatus. 2. Zephyranthes rosea.
491. Zephyranthes tubispatha 2. Zephyranthes Candida
50Savannah Finch
51Great blue Heron
52Herring Gull
53Cat Bird
54Red-eyed Vireo
55Purple Martin
56Passenger Pigeon
57Olive sided Flycatcher
58Ruddy Duck
59Maryland Yellow Throat
60Gannet
61Kentucky Warbler. Male
62EIDER DUCK
63Columbia Jay
64Field Sparrow
65Cardinal GrosbeakFries Museum
66Great horned-Owl
67American Goldfinch
68Winter Hawk
69Black Warrior
70Yellow-throated Vireo
71Yellow Bird or American Goldfinch
72Purple Heron
73Arctic Tern
74Swallow-tailed Hawk
75Pancratium amænum
76Trumpeter Swan 1
77Iceland or Jer Falcon
78Winter Wren. Rock Wren
79Pancratium specidsum
80Amaryllis vittata
81Yellow Red-poll Warbler
82Rough-legged Falcon
83Curlew Sandpiper
84Yellow Crowned Heron
85Whip-poor-will
86Great White Heron
87Black Vulture or Carrion Crow
88Golden-eye Duck
89The Mocking Bird
90Red Tailed HawkYale University Art Gallery
91Brown Pelican
92Barred Owl
93Le Petit Corporal
94THE FALLS
95Ruffed Grouse
96PANORAMIC VIEW OF VENICE
97Great Marbled Godwit
98Crinum declinatum
99American Flamingo
100Summer or Wood Duck
The subjects that held Robert Havell's eye
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
Birds 45 works
Flowers 33 works
Botanical art 6 works
Floral illustration 3 works
The museums that keep Robert Havell's originals
The 5 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Robert Havell | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Minneapolis Institute of Art |
Minneapolis | 1 | View of the Hudson from Horton's Road near Croton |
 New York Historical Society |
New York City | 1 | View of Hudson River from near Sing Sing, New York |
 Musee National du Chateau de Compiegne |
Compiegne | 1 | Amaryllis solandriflora var |
 Fries Museum |
Leeuwarden | 1 | Cardinal Grosbeak |
 Yale University Art Gallery |
New Haven | 1 | Red Tailed Hawk |
Robert Havell across the years: the unique originals of each
A long career of 17 years, 1850 to 1866: Robert Havell's most famous originals, shown year by year.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its originals.
Robert Havell's paintings: questions for the gallery
What is the single most famous work of Robert Havell?Reveal the answer
Virginian Partridge. American White Pelican and Blue Jay come next.
Which ten paintings by Robert Havell are the most famous?Reveal the answer
Virginian Partridge, American White Pelican, Blue Jay, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Attack on Fort Oswego, Lake Ontario, N. America, View of the Hudson from Horton's Road near Croton, View of Hudson River from near Sing Sing, New York, View of the Hudson River from Tarrytown, Fish Hawk and Snowy Owl. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
How many works by Robert Havell are known?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 195 works by Robert Havell, dated from 1850 to 1866.
Where can the most famous Robert Havell originals be seen?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis), New York Historical Society (New York City) and Musee National du Chateau de Compiegne (Compiegne). The museum table above lists them all.
During which period did Robert Havell create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer
In 1850: 2 of the 100 works on this page were made then, View of the Hudson from Horton's Road near Croton among them.
Which famous Robert Havell painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is View of the Hudson from Horton's Road near Croton (1850) and the latest View of the Hudson River from Tarrytown (1866).
What subjects did Robert Havell favour?Reveal the answer
Birds (45), Flowers (33) and Botanical art (6), across the 100 works on this page.
Which movement does the work of Robert Havell belong to?Reveal the answer
Hudson river school, judging by the originals on this page.
Robert Havell: a portrait of the artist
Robert Havell: Life and Legacy
Early Life and Family Background
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.
Artistic Development and Training
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.
Collaboration with John James Audubon
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.
Artistic Style and Notable Works
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
Influences and Associations
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.
Legacy and Historical Significance
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 OriginalUniqueArt.com.