The Nuthatch (Sitta Europaea)

published 1754

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

This is a painting of two birds perched on a tree stump surrounded by leafy branches. The tree stump has dark, textured bark and a smooth, flat top, while the branches have elongated green leaves. One bird is on the left side of the stump, displaying black, white, and hints of orange plumage, while the other bird is on the right. Acorns can be seen on the branches. The painting captures the interaction between the birds and their habitat, and is in the style of John James Audubon.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and engraving with hand coloring on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Collection of Dr. and Mrs. George Benjamin Green

  • Dimensions

    plate: 35 x 25.7 cm (13 3/4 x 10 1/8 in.)
    sheet: 42.1 x 29.7 cm (16 9/16 x 11 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.16

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Natural History, Vol. vol.1, no. 22

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Dr. and Mrs. George Benjamin Green, Virginia; gift to NGA, 1991.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1771

  • Catesby, Mark. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. London: 1771.

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: Sitta capite nigro. / The Nuthatch; lower center in plate: Quercus humilior &c. / The highland Willow Oak.; lower right in plate: Sitta capite fusco. / The Small Nuthatch.; upper left in plate: T.22.; by later hand, lower right in graphite: Marc Catesby - London . 1754

Watermarks

IHS / VILLIDARY

Wikidata ID

Q74894672

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