Long-Tailed Bird Seen in Profile 1700 - 1755

Count Giorgio Duranti made this drawing of a long-tailed bird in profile with pen and brown ink, heightened with white opaque watercolor over black chalk on paper. Notice the meticulous detail in the bird's feathers, achieved through fine, deliberate lines and subtle tonal variations. Duranti masterfully uses line to define the bird's form, from the delicate curve of its neck to the sharp angles of its claws. The restricted colour palette emphasises the texture of the bird's plumage. The blank background draws our eye to the subject. This allows a close examination of line and form, revealing Duranti's engagement with naturalism and his acute attention to the specifics of avian anatomy. In this way, the drawing also highlights the interplay between observation and representation that was central to the scientific and artistic endeavors of Duranti's era.