The Strange-tailed Tyrant female, initially identified as Muscicapa psalura but more accurately recognized by its true name Alectrurus risora, is a breathtaking and rare subject featured in volume XIII (Aves) Part 2 of General Zoology or Systematic Natural History authored by the esteemed British naturalist George Shaw (1751–1813). The original exquisite 1825 etching, printed in London and skillfully engraved by the talented Mrs. Griffith alongside the renowned Charles Heath and James Francis Stephens, beautifully captures the bird’s intriguingly shaped tail plumage with extraordinary detail and an array of vibrant, almost lifelike colors. Measuring a generous 12.5 by 18 inches, this original etching piece of artwork once graced the walls of a celebrated Manhattan art gallery in NYC, only to be retired and carefully stored away in pristine condition for over half a century. Now, it reemerges as a delightfully quirky and rare treasure, perfect for any fine art connoisseur or vintage natural history print enthusiast seeking a striking blend of scientific fascination and a dash of that timeless old-school elegance.
The Strange-tailed Tyrant female, initially identified as Muscicapa psalura but more accurately recognized by its true name Alectrurus risora, is a breathtaking and rare subject featured in volume XIII (Aves) Part 2 of General Zoology or Systematic Natural History authored by the esteemed British naturalist George Shaw (1751–1813). The original exquisite 1825 etching, printed in London and skillfully engraved by the talented Mrs. Griffith alongside the renowned Charles Heath and James Francis Stephens, beautifully captures the bird’s intriguingly shaped tail plumage with extraordinary detail and an array of vibrant, almost lifelike colors. Measuring a generous 12.5 by 18 inches, this original etching piece of artwork once graced the walls of a celebrated Manhattan art gallery in NYC, only to be retired and carefully stored away in pristine condition for over half a century. Now, it reemerges as a delightfully quirky and rare treasure, perfect for any fine art connoisseur or vintage natural history print enthusiast seeking a striking blend of scientific fascination and a dash of that timeless old-school elegance.
