Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
  • Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
  • Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
  • Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
  • Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
  • Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
Crested Hawk-Eagle – Keulemans, Antique Bird Print
Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans

Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti) – Original Antique Bird Print by Keulemans

€345.00
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Original antique bird print depicting Spizaëtus kelaarti (Crested Hawk-Eagle), illustrated by J.G. Keulemans for A History of the Birds of Ceylon. A striking Victorian ornithological lithograph featuring an imposing pair of raptors with exceptional decorative presence.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Crested Hawk-Eagle: Power and Poise in Victorian Ornithological Art

This original 19th-century ornithological lithograph depicts the Crested Hawk-Eagle (Spizaëtus kelaarti), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for A History of the Birds of Ceylon. The composition presents an imposing pair of raptors — an adult and a younger bird — rendered with remarkable anatomical precision and quiet authority.

Combining scientific observation with strong decorative presence, this engraving reflects Keulemans’s exceptional ability to transform natural history into compositions of lasting visual power.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is structured around a compelling visual dialogue between the two birds. The larger eagle dominates the image with sculptural presence, its elevated stance, layered plumage and prominent crest conveying both vigilance and strength.

In contrast, the younger companion introduces balance and narrative depth. Positioned lower and rendered in softer tones, it creates a subtle generational contrast that enriches the composition beyond a purely scientific study.

Keulemans employs an elegant range of browns, creams and muted greys, allowing feather textures to emerge with exceptional clarity. The softly atmospheric background avoids distraction and enhances the monumental presence of the birds.

The result is an engraving of unusual gravitas — visually refined yet commanding, equally compelling for collectors of raptor imagery and for interiors seeking a statement piece grounded in natural history.

About the Crested Hawk-Eagle

The Crested Hawk-Eagle belongs to a group of powerful forest raptors known for their agility, sharp vision and commanding hunting abilities. Their distinctive crests and muscular silhouettes made them particularly admired subjects within Victorian ornithology.

In nineteenth-century natural history works, birds of prey symbolised both wilderness and precision — creatures admired not only for their beauty, but for the extraordinary adaptations that allowed them to dominate their environment.

Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to A History of the Birds of Ceylon, an important Victorian ornithological publication documenting the remarkable avifauna of Sri Lanka. The plates illustrated by J.G. Keulemans are especially admired for their precision, elegance and enduring decorative appeal.

Keulemans became one of the defining visual interpreters of nineteenth-century ornithology, transforming scientific specimens into compositions of unusual vitality and artistic sophistication.

Discover more about the artist: J.G. Keulemans — Precision and Passion in Ornithological Illustration.

Browse the complete collection: Keulemans – Birds of Ceylon Collection, featuring rare Victorian ornithological lithographs from one of the great masters of bird illustration.

Condition Report

Exceptionally fresh antique condition. A remarkably crisp and beautifully preserved impression, retaining bright original color and excellent tonal depth throughout the plumage. The sheet presents a particularly clean and refined appearance with generous margins. No watermark observed. Minor signs of age may be present, fully consistent with the period.

Details

  • Artist: Johannes Gerardus Keulemans (signed in the plate)
  • Work: A History of the Birds of Ceylon
  • Species: Spizaëtus kelaarti (Crested Hawk-Eagle)
  • Date: Late 19th century
  • Technique: Lithograph with original hand-coloring
  • Paper: Original period paper
  • Watermark: None observed
  • Dimensions: approx. 38 × 28 cm (sheet)
  • Condition: Exceptionally fresh impression
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