The Swallow Tail Hawk (Falco furcatus)

published 1754

Mark Catesby

Associated Names
Mark Catesby

Artist, English, 1679 - 1749

This is a painting of a bird perched on a branch. The bird has a slender form with a long tail, primarily blue plumage with hints of green on the wings and tail feathers. The bird's head is turned to the side, displaying a sharp, slightly curved beak and a vibrant red eye. It is perched on a narrow, brown branch, against a plain light-colored background. The style is reminiscent 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: 37.9 x 26.4 cm (14 15/16 x 10 3/8 in.)
    sheet: 43.5 x 30.8 cm (17 1/8 x 12 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.163.33

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Natural History, Vol. vol.1, no. 4

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

upper right in plate: Accepiter cauda forcipater furcata. T.4. / The Swallow-tail'd Hawk.; by later hand, lower right in graphite: Marc Catesby - London 1754

Watermarks

IHS / VILLIDARY

Wikidata ID

Q74894764

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