Great Crested Grebe. Wonderful antique hand-coloured lithograph. W.Hart c1870.

by William Hart

Podiceps cristatus 1/2 size, in their natural environment - on the water among vegetation.

Original hand-coloured lithograph by the eminent English natural history illustrator, William Hart (1830-1908), from a drawing by Edward Neale. This lovely lithograph was published in London c1871 for The History of the Birds of Europe by Henry Eeles Dresser (1838-1915). Born in Ireland, William Matthew Hart began his artistic career as a colourist for John Gould's exquisite Humming Birds monograph. John Gould (1804-1881) recognized Hart's exceptional skill and he was later employed as principal artist for Gould's last grand publication, illustrating The Birds of New Guinea and Adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia published in London between 1875 and 1888 (with completion of this publication by Gould’s associate Richard Bowdler Sharpe (1847-1908).

This lovely illustration is currently half-framed with a decorated mount and backboard, ready for choice of frame. Image size is 22 x 27cm (8 5/8 x 10 5/8 inches). External size for frame window is 14 5/8 x 16 5/8 inches. Please request image as mounted (for $220).