Phaethornis philippi (Needle-billed Hermit).

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 Needle-billed Hermit is a slender, long-billed hummingbird distinguished by its strongly decurved bill and muted brown and olive plumage, suited to the shaded understory of South American forests. In Gould’s hand-colored lithograph, the bird is portrayed feeding delicately among hanging blossoms, its elongated form and curved bill rendered with characteristic precision. Metallic pigments highlight the soft iridescence of the feathers, while the surrounding vegetation is drawn with botanical accuracy, creating a serene and naturalistic composition.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae remains one of the defining works of nineteenth-century ornithological illustration. Produced over nearly forty years, the series combined Gould’s exacting field studies with the artistry of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The Needle-billed Hermit plate reflects the balance of scientific observation and refined beauty that made the series a masterpiece of both natural history and Victorian art.