Coeligena Prunelli (Black inca).

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 Black Inca is an elegant hummingbird native to the montane forests of Colombia, noted for its deep velvety black plumage, contrasting white patches on the breast and tail, and a subtle violet gloss that reveals itself in the light. In Gould’s hand-colored lithograph, the bird is depicted among tropical blossoms, its poised stance and balanced composition reflecting both natural grace and scientific precision. Metallic pigments were skillfully applied to recreate the soft sheen of its plumage, giving the plate a luminous depth that characterizes the finest of Gould’s Trochilidae series.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae remains a landmark of nineteenth-century natural history publishing. Produced over nearly four decades, the series united Gould’s rigorous fieldwork with the artistry of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The Black Inca plate exemplifies the harmony between detailed observation and artistic refinement that made Gould’s hummingbirds enduring symbols of Victorian naturalism and aesthetic achievement.