Argus Pheasant c. 1780 - 1842
pieterpieterszbarbiers
pencil drawn
toned paper
light pencil work
pencil sketch
possibly oil pastel
pencil drawing
botanical drawing
watercolour illustration
botanical art
watercolor
"Argus Pheasant" is a detailed watercolor painting by Pieter Pietersz. Barbiers, a Dutch artist known for his meticulous depictions of birds. The painting, created between 1780 and 1842, showcases the intricate plumage of the Argus Pheasant, a species native to Southeast Asia. The artist's keen eye for detail is evident in the rendering of the bird's feathery wings, its long tail feathers, and its textured body. This realistic portrayal of a fascinating bird exemplifies the popularity of natural history illustrations in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Comments
In recording this argus pheasant, Pieter Barbiers focused on the faithful depiction of its plumage. The countless dots and round spots on the tail and wing feathers are called Argus eyes, a reference (like the bird’s name itself) to the hundred-eyed giant Argus in Greek mythology. According to the classical myth, the giant’s eyes were forever preserved in the similar pattern on a peacock’s tail.
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