#thomasbewick

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/250956

http://www.moma.org/collection/works/21079

‘The powers of its wing were wonderful....’ 🦉By no means an expert at identifying different species of birds, I get confused trying to identify artists’ depictions: it’s like looking through a filter. It’s even more confusing when birds are known by different names, although in this case I can go back to the original source for the illustration: Gilbert White’s Natural History of Selborne. This is a Nightjar (Caprimulgus)- apparently also known as a Fern Owl, Goatsucker and Goat Milker. The drawing is by John Nash and was first published in 1951 as a black and white line engraving, then in 1972 with lithographed colour added. Nash told a friend that he was ‘hatched off’ with all the detailed cross-hatching. The open-beaked pose catching a fly 🪰 appears over 100 years earlier in a drawing by John Thompson (after Thomas Bewick) for a Victorian edition of Gilbert White’s book. It illustrates a letter written in 1771: “DEAR SIR,—On the twelfth of July I had a fair opportunity of contemplating the motions of the caprimulgus, or fern-owl, as it was playing round a large oak that swarmed with Scarabai solstitiale or fern-chafers. The powers of its wing were wonderful, exceeding, if possible, the various evolutions and quick turns of the swallow genus. But the circumstance that pleased me most was, that I saw it dis- tinctly, more than once, put out its short leg while on the wing, and, by a bend of the head, deliver somewhat into its mouth. If it takes any part of its prey with its foot, as I have now the greatest reason to suppose it does these chafers, I no longer wonder at the use of its middle toe, which is curiously furnished with a serrated claw.” Looking forward to the John Nash exhibition at @townergallery later this spring. #johnnash #gilbertwhite #naturalhistory #fernowl #nightjar #selborne #johnthompson #thomasbewick @gilbertwhiteoc (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNW8Aiol6TT/?igshid=ul7cg6fgbfre

QL706 .B5 1800

A heart-warming Valentine from my @woodengraversnetwork friends. You really know how to scratch my inner engraving nerd itch 😍 Happy Valentines Day! #valentine #woodengraving #thomasBewick #burins #quadrupeds @tonydrehfal @mcgarvem @mirkahokkanen https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jcLxmgNhP/?igshid=89sp30i53big

THOMAS BEWICK ∙ The Lion / detail ∙ 1790 __________________ #illustration #art #penandink #woodcut #engraving #pen #pencil #artist #illustrator #drawing #wildlife #nature #naturalhistory #lion #thomasbewick

http://www.moma.org/collection/works/20956

http://www.moma.org/collection/works/20947