Lizars. PNG Ptilinopus cyanovirens. Blue and Green Turteline. c1843.

by Lizars, William Home

New Guinea Turteline. Small finely engraved, hand-coloured portrait.

Original fine hand-coloured steel engraving by William Home Lizars (1788-1859) after great scientific artist at the Zoological Society, 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. This lovely little Pigeon would look lovely in a set of three in one frame.

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 birds - as well as Lizar's sister, Jane Home Lizars, whom he married.

In fine condition, page size is 162 x 92mm (6 3/8 x 3 5/8 inches). Paper is age-discoloured - but so would you be if nearly 200 years old. Reduced price because of vertical bend at top left and soiled spot above engraving.