Bidspirit auction | Lewin - 4 Bird Engravings

Lewin - 4 Bird Engravings - This wonderful engraving with original hand-coloring is from the beautiful ornithological collection by William Lewin entitled The Birds of Great Britain, systematically arranged, accurately engraved, and painted from nature; with descriptions including the natural history of each bird . The work was partially engraved by William Lewin, with his sons completing the engravings after his early death. It was published in London for J. Johnson between 1797 and 1801. William Lewin (1747-1795) was “the best zoological painter, and one of the most practical naturalists of his day, ” according to Swainson. Not only depicting the birds, Lewin also rendered the eggs of each bird found in his work. The birds themselves are captured in lifelike poses, quite to the contrast of other works during this period. Paper Size ~ 9” by 11 1/4”