Merganser 29 - 1890

John Ruskin captured this study of a Merganser in watercolor on paper. The merganser, with its distinctive serrated bill, is a symbol rich in history. Birds, in general, have long been associated with the soul's journey, a motif we see echoed from ancient Egyptian art, where birds carry the spirits of the deceased, to medieval Christian symbolism where birds represent the divine. The fierce aspect of this bird, accentuated by its saw-edged bill, could be linked to the ancient Roman association of birds with divination and omens, yet here it is grounded in scientific observation, reflecting a shift towards empirical study. Consider how the representation of birds evolved: from symbolic messengers of gods to subjects of scientific inquiry, their imagery persists, tapping into humanity's enduring fascination with the natural world.