Lizars. Columba Livia, Laticauda. Broad or Fan-Tailed Shaker c1843

by Lizars, William Home

Finely-engraved, plump yet elegant, Fan-Tailed Pigeon antique print.

Original fine hand-coloured steel engraving by William Home Lizars (1788-1859) for Sir William Jardine’s Naturalist’s Library Ornithology, Pigeons, engraved and printed in Edinburgh c.1843 by W.H. Lizars. By hand-colouring only the bird, each exquisite little bird study is highlighted against its black-printed engraved background.

Lizars engraved between 30 and 40 plates from drawings by leading naturalists for each of the 40 works of Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library, a series comprising all kinds of fauna.  WH Lizars engraved some of the most exquisitely detailed and superbly hand-coloured miniature wildlife portraits ever done. Son of artist, engraver, publisher Daniel Lizars (1754-1812) and brother of anatomist John Lizars (c1787-1860), William was a pupil of engraver Andrew Bell (1726-1809). Sir William Jardine, (1800-1874) was a Scottish naturalist who was particularly keen on Ornithology. He was also keen on Lizar's sister, Jane Home Lizars, whom he married.

Page size is 92 x 162mm (3 5/8 x 6 3/8 inches).