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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Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
Specific References
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.
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.
Original antique bird print depicting Spizaëtus ceylonensis (Ceylon Hawk-Eagle), illustrated by J.G. Keulemans for A History of the Birds of Ceylon. A refined Victorian ornithological lithograph featuring an elegant pair of raptors with remarkable decorative presence.
Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting two remarkable Sri Lankan mynas — Eulabes ptilogenys and Acridotheres melanosternus — illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. Distinguished by rich iridescent plumage and refined compositional balance, this elegant ornithological lithograph combines scientific precision with exceptional decorative sophistication.
Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting the striking Crimson-backed Flameback (Chrysocolaptes stricklandi), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. This rare ornithological lithograph combines scientific precision with exceptional decorative appeal, featuring vivid crimson plumage and refined naturalistic composition.
Original antique bird print by J.G. Keulemans depicting Buchanga leucopygialis (White-rumped Drongo), from A History of the Birds of Ceylon. A refined Victorian ornithological lithograph with elegant tonal balance and exceptional decorative presence.
Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting the remarkable Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. With its vivid scarlet face, elegant elongated tail and refined tropical palette, this striking ornithological lithograph combines scientific precision with exceptional decorative presence.
Original hand-colored bird engraving depicting the Crimson-fronted Barbet (Xantholaema rubricapilla) and the Ceylon Hanging Parrot (Loriculus indicus), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for Birds of Ceylon. A vivid tropical composition rich in colour and narrative charm.
Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting the elegant Ceylon Hornbill (Tockus gingalensis), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. This refined ornithological lithograph combines scientific precision with sculptural decorative appeal, featuring the species’ remarkable ivory-coloured bill and poised tropical composition.
Original antique bird print depicting Baza ceylonensis (Ceylon Hawk-Eagle), illustrated by J.G. Keulemans for A History of the Birds of Ceylon. A striking Victorian ornithological lithograph featuring a refined pair of raptors with strong decorative presence.
Original nineteenth-century bird print depicting two remarkable Sri Lankan drongos — Dissemurus paradiseus and Dissemurus lophorhinus — illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for William Vincent Legge’s celebrated Birds of Ceylon. Distinguished by deep iridescent plumage and elegant elongated forms, this refined ornithological lithograph combines scientific precision with understated decorative sophistication.