The Swallow-Tailed Indian Roller 1802 - 1805

This is a hand-colored engraving of "The Swallow-Tailed Indian Roller" made by George Edwards in the mid-18th century. Edwards was a self-taught artist and naturalist, who became librarian to the Royal College of Physicians in London. His detailed prints reflect the growing field of ornithology and the global expansion of British trade and empire. The bird’s exotic origins – “from the Coast of Coromandel, in the East Indies” – would have appealed to wealthy collectors eager to own specimens of natural history. Edwards’s images circulated in books like "Gleanings of Natural History," expanding the audience for scientific illustration. As an art historian, I’m interested in how these detailed engravings reflect the intersection of art, science, and commerce in 18th-century Europe. We can look to the archives of scientific societies and the records of trading companies to understand the full social context of this image. Ultimately, the meaning of Edwards's beautiful bird is contingent on its place within a network of institutions.