Jays, Brazilian Bird Print, Descourtilz, 1944

Jays print after Descourtilz, Estampa 48 in the 1944 Ornitologia Brasileira, a limited Brazilian edition of Jean-Théodore Descourtilz's bird paintings, printed in color by offset.

Three jays are gathered on a forked, antler-like branch. Each shows a head marked in black and white, a body of rich blue over the back and wings, and a pale, whitening belly; one of the three is additionally marked with a patch of chestnut-brown across the throat and upper breast, setting it apart from its two plainer companions. Their long tails, blue above and white-tipped beneath, are a principal feature of the design, one trailing down the left side of the plate and another spreading horizontally along the branch. The branch itself is bare and pale, its several forks giving each bird its own distinct foothold within the tightly interlocking composition.

Livraria Kosmos Editora published the Ornitologia Brasileira ou História Natural das Aves do Brasil, notáveis por sua plumagem, canto e hábitos in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in 1944. This first Portuguese edition, translated by Eurico Santos from the French original of the 1850s, was limited to 1,315 copies (1,000 plus 315 numbered). All 48 plates are color offset prints of Descourtilz's paintings of Brazilian birds, each captioned "Estampa" with its number on a toned card within a printed green ornamental border.

Jean-Théodore Descourtilz (circa 1796 to 1855) was a French painter and naturalist who traveled to Brazil in the late 1820s and devoted himself to painting its birds; his first work on the birds of Brazil appeared in 1834.

Strong in color and suitable for framing, this jays print after Descourtilz would make a handsome addition to a collection of ornithology prints or a colorful focal point for a library or garden room.

This plate is in fair to good condition for its age. The image panel shows several patches of pale foxing; the mount shows ordinary age toning, with a few small spots and light wear to the edges. Please review the images for further condition details.