Manakins, Brazilian Bird Print, Descourtilz, 1944

Manakins print after Descourtilz, 1944: this is Estampa 39 from the Ornitologia Brasileira, the Kosmos edition of the French painter's paintings of Brazilian birds.

Three small birds, closely similar in pattern, are gathered on a single branch bearing dark berries and small pale flowers. Each shows a black head crowned with a patch of red or orange at the forecrown, a blue-black back and wing, and a paler blue-white belly; the birds are arranged at three heights along the branch, one at the top gripping a leaf, one at the center reaching toward a cluster of berries, and one lower down among a second, sparser cluster of fruit and blossom. The similarity of pattern among the three suggests they are meant to be read as variations on a single type rather than as three distinct kinds of bird.

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 manakins 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 good condition for its age. The mount shows ordinary age toning, with a few small spots, a faint surface crease in the upper left and light edge wear. Please review the images for further condition details.