Aert Schouman: Two exotic birds (1762)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A watercolor made by the Dutch artist Aert Schouman (1710 - 1792). Schouman was a versatile artist who produced still lifes, biblical and mythological themes, natural history studies, genre, historical and topographical works, designed tapestries etc. Paintings of various exotic birds were a favorite subject for him. This piece is an example: on the left a Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) from South America and on the right an orange-breasted bunting (Passerina leclancherii) from Mexico. Painting from 1762.