Lizars. Glophillus carunculatus. Carunculated Ground Pigeon. Antique print c1843.

by Lizars, William Home

Grand Pigeon, bearing the worries of the world.  

Original fine hand-coloured steel engraving by William Home Lizars (1788-1859) from a drawing by the great bird artist, Zoological Society of London scientific artist, Edward Lear (1812-1888) 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 162 x 92mm (6 3/8 x 3 5/8 inches). Age discolouration (as is to be expected when nearly 200 years old). Slight bend at lower right corner. Little space around the engraved bird.