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Ceylon Barbets (Megalaema zeylanica & Megalaema flavifrons) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans
€335.00
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Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting two remarkable Sri Lankan barbets — Megalaema zeylanica and Megalaema flavifrons — illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. Rich in tropical colour and compositional balance, this striking ornithological lithograph combines scientific observation with refined decorative appeal.
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Authentic antique prints
Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
Ceylon Barbets: Tropical Colour and Ornithological Elegance in Victorian Bird Art
This original nineteenth-century bird print depicts two remarkable Sri Lankan barbets — the Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaema zeylanica) and the Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaema flavifrons) — illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon.
Combining vivid tropical colour with exceptional compositional balance, the engraving presents two endemic species in a manner that feels both scientifically precise and visually refined, revealing Keulemans’ extraordinary sensitivity to natural rhythm and decorative harmony.
— • —
Visual and Aesthetic Analysis
The composition is immediately defined by an elegant interplay of greens — from deep emerald and olive to luminous tropical tones — creating an unusually harmonious and calming palette. The upper bird dominates the scene with quiet confidence, while the lower figure introduces vivid chromatic contrast through its turquoise face and warm russet crown.
Keulemans structures the engraving through diagonals and layered positioning, giving movement to the composition without sacrificing clarity. The small red berry held delicately in the beak acts as a subtle focal accent, introducing narrative and reinforcing the tropical atmosphere of the scene.
Unlike more dramatic raptor or hornbill plates, this engraving achieves its effect through balance and colour sophistication. The softly rendered foliage and pale background tones allow the birds themselves to emerge with sculptural clarity.
The result is an exceptionally decorative natural history image — elegant, vibrant and particularly suited for interiors seeking refined colour without visual excess.
About the Ceylon Barbets
The species depicted here — Megalaema zeylanica and Megalaema flavifrons — are among Sri Lanka’s endemic barbets, small fruit-eating birds known for their vibrant plumage and distinctive vocalisations. Their colourful appearance made them highly attractive subjects within nineteenth-century ornithological publishing.
William Vincent Legge’s Birds of Ceylon sought to document the island’s unique avifauna with scientific accuracy, while artists such as Keulemans transformed these observations into visually compelling compositions of lasting artistic value.
Heritage Stories
This engraving belongs to Birds of Ceylon, William Vincent Legge’s important ornithological survey of Sri Lankan birdlife, illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans, one of the leading bird artists of the Victorian era.
Keulemans became renowned for his rare ability to combine anatomical precision with decorative elegance — producing engravings that continue to appeal to collectors, museums and lovers of natural history interiors alike.
Discover more about the artist: Johannes Gerardus Keulemans — Precision and Passion in Ornithological Illustration .
Browse the complete collection: Keulemans – Birds of Ceylon Collection .
For readers wishing to better understand antique prints — from technique and paper to collecting criteria — explore our guide: Antique Prints Guide .
Condition Report
Very good to excellent antique condition. An exceptionally fresh and crisp impression, retaining beautifully preserved original colouring and a remarkably bright, clean appearance. Printed on fine nineteenth-century paper with generous margins. No watermark observed. Minor signs of age may be present, consistent with the period, but the engraving remains unusually well preserved and visually vibrant.
Details
- Author: William Vincent Legge
- Work: Birds of Ceylon
- Artist: Johannes Gerardus Keulemans
- Artist credit: “J.C. Keulemans lith.” present in the plate
- Printer: “Hanhart imp.” present in the plate
- Species: Megalaema zeylanica & Megalaema flavifrons (Ceylon Barbets)
- Date: Late 19th century
- Technique: Original nineteenth-century lithograph with refined original hand-colouring
- Paper: Original nineteenth-century paper
- Watermark: None observed
- Dimensions: approx. 38 × 28 cm (sheet)
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Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting two remarkable Sri Lankan barbets — Megalaema zeylanica and Megalaema flavifrons — illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. Rich in tropical colour and compositional balance, this striking ornithological lithograph combines scientific observation with refined decorative appeal.