Golden Green Bird, François Le Vaillant

Drawn from the Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d'Afrique (1799–1808), this portrait of the Golden Green Bird — a species combining vivid green with golden reflections, most likely an African oriole (Oriolus sp.) or a golden-toned sunbird — is one of the most luminous plates in Le Vaillant's entire work. The explorer-naturalist was particularly sensitive to how light played across the plumage of birds he observed in the wild. The contrast between bright green and golden iridescence, rendered here by the skilled hand-colourists of the period, makes this plate a work of art in its own right. The bird's posture, captured within its natural setting, reflects Le Vaillant's commitment to behavioural observation in the field. Available sizes: 30×40 cm · 40×50 cm · 50×70 cm and more Print: 200 gsm textured matte paper, archival pigment inks