Edward Lear Noble Parrot Maccaw, Psittacara Nobilis c1836.

by Lizars, William Home

Red-shouldered Maccaw, now Diopsittaca nobilis, of South America.

Fine original hand-coloured steel engraving by eminent Edinburgh engraver William Home Lizars (1788-1859) after a drawing by Edward Lear who assisted John Selby with illustrations for his work on Parrots for Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library, published in London c1836. W.H. Lizars engraved each finely detailed specimen in its natural habitat. Only the bird was watercoloured so that itis highlighted against the background engraving. The small nature portraits engraved by Lizars after Lear, are some of the finest ever produced - a perfect combination of science and art.

Edward Lear (1812-1888) worked as a scientific artist for the Zoological Society in London. He was the first eminent artist to draw fauna from life rather than from stuffed skins. Between 1830 and 1832 Lear painted and lithographed parrots for his publication, Illustrations of the family Psittacidae, or Parrots - which resulted in his being elected an associate of the Linnaean Society. As he became frustrated by failing eyesight in his latter years, Edward Lear apparently said that if there was such a thing as reincarnation he would surely return as a parrot.  

This antique print is nearly 200 years old. The page size is 10 x 17cm (4 x 6.6 inches). This small engraving has been mounted between antique-white ragmat conservation boards and covered with cellophane for presentation and protection until framed. The window mount has been decorated by gold and green lines. The external mount size for frame window is 26 x 32cm.