ORThe Open Room
Digital gallery
Back to the NGA collection
This is a painting of two American Magpies. One magpie is in flight and the other is perched on a branch. The magpie in flight has black, white, and iridescent green and blue feathers. The other magpie has similar coloring, with its wings folded against its body. The focus on detail highlights the beauty of these birds. The painting is in the style of John James Audubon.
Read the visual description

This is a painting of two American Magpies. One magpie is in flight and the other is perched on a branch. The magpie in flight has black, white, and iridescent green and blue feathers. The other magpie has similar coloring, with its wings folded against its body. The focus on detail highlights the beauty of these birds. The painting is in the style of John James Audubon.

National Gallery of Art · Print

American Magpie

Robert Havell after John James Audubon

Date
1837
Medium
hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper
Classification
Print
Accession number
1945.8.357
Credit line
Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James
Time span
1826 to 1850
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
The Birds of America: Plate CCCLVII

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • etching
  • aquatint
  • bird
  • animal
  • Tree

NGA object ID 32498. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.