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Red-faced Malkoha (Centropus chlororhynchus) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans
€345.00
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Original hand-colored bird engraving depicting the Red-faced Malkoha (Centropus chlororhynchus), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for The Birds of Ceylon. A striking tropical composition with rich chestnut and deep blue plumage.
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Authentic antique prints
Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
Red-faced Malkoha: Tropical Drama and Refined Movement in Victorian Bird Art
This original nineteenth-century bird print depicts the remarkable Red-faced Malkoha (Centropus chlororhynchus), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon.
With its deep blue-black plumage, warm chestnut wings and vivid green bill, this plate presents one of the most atmospheric compositions in the series — a refined image where scientific observation meets strong decorative presence.
— • —
Visual and Aesthetic Analysis
The composition is built around a striking contrast between dark iridescent plumage and warm chestnut tones. The dominant bird, perched diagonally across the upper part of the image, creates a strong visual line, while the second figure below introduces intimacy and narrative depth.
Particularly compelling is the sense of interaction between the two birds. The feeding gesture gives the engraving a rare liveliness, transforming the plate from a simple taxonomic representation into a scene of behaviour and atmosphere.
Keulemans softens the dramatic forms with pale tropical foliage and muted green branches, allowing the dark bodies and coppery wings to stand out with sculptural clarity. The restrained but unusual palette gives the work a refined, almost painterly quality.
The result is an elegant and distinctive natural history print, especially suited for collectors and interiors seeking a sophisticated tropical subject with depth, movement and visual character.
About the Red-faced Malkoha
The Red-faced Malkoha (Centropus chlororhynchus) is one of Sri Lanka’s distinctive forest birds, admired for its unusual colouring, long tail and secretive tropical presence. Its combination of dark plumage, chestnut wings and green bill gives it a highly recognisable profile.
In nineteenth-century ornithological publishing, species such as this represented the richness of island biodiversity and the fascination of European naturalists with the birdlife of Ceylon, today Sri Lanka.
Heritage Stories
This engraving belongs to Birds of Ceylon, William Vincent Legge’s important ornithological study of Sri Lankan birdlife, illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans, one of the defining masters of nineteenth-century bird illustration.
In this plate, Keulemans’ sensitivity to posture, colour and behaviour is especially evident. The scene combines scientific accuracy with an almost narrative quality, making it one of the more atmospheric compositions from the series.
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 refined.
Details
- Author: William Vincent Legge
- Work: Birds of Ceylon
- Artist: Johannes Gerardus Keulemans
- Species: Red-faced Malkoha (Centropus chlororhynchus)
- 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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