Amazilia Pristina (Amazilia hummingbird).

From A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds, 6 vols., large folio. Published in London, 1849–1887. Printed by Hullmandel and Walter from drawings by J. Gould, H. C. Richter, and William Hart, lithographed by the artists.

The Amazilia Hummingbird is a graceful species notable for its luminous emerald-green plumage, rufous tail, and subtle bronze reflections along the back and wings. In Gould’s hand-colored lithograph, the bird is depicted in a moment of stillness amid flowering tropical foliage, its delicate form balanced by the intricate rendering of each leaf and blossom. Metallic pigments were applied with precision to capture the iridescent brilliance of its feathers, a hallmark of Gould’s Trochilidae plates and a testament to his mastery in translating motion and light into print.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae stands as one of the greatest achievements in natural history art. Spanning nearly four decades, it brought together Gould’s fieldwork and curatorial eye with the technical excellence of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The Amazilia Hummingbird plate exemplifies the series’ union of scientific accuracy and aesthetic refinement, preserving the radiant beauty of one of nature’s most enchanting bird families.