Nightjar Possibly 1784 - 1787

"Nightjar" is a detailed watercolor painting by Dutch artist Jan Brandes, dated sometime between 1784 and 1787. The artwork depicts a nightjar, a nocturnal bird, in meticulous detail. Brandes's precise rendering of the bird's plumage and posture demonstrates his talent for scientific illustration, which was a popular genre in the 18th century. The painting's small size, measuring 155 mm in height and 195 mm in width, suggests it was likely part of a larger collection of natural history illustrations.