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.
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Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
This original 19th-century ornithological lithograph depicts the Ceylon Hawk-Eagle (Baza ceylonensis), illustrated by Johannes Gerardus Keulemans for A History of the Birds of Ceylon. The composition presents a beautifully balanced pair of raptors — an imposing adult and a younger companion — rendered with exceptional refinement and naturalistic precision.
With its elegant proportions, richly articulated plumage and poised atmosphere, this engraving reflects Keulemans’s extraordinary ability to unite scientific observation with decorative sophistication.
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The composition achieves remarkable visual harmony through the interaction between the two birds. The larger eagle stands upright in calm authority, while the younger companion introduces movement through its lower, more animated pose. Together, they create a refined balance between monumentality and vitality.
Keulemans employs a nuanced palette of warm browns, soft creams and muted greys, allowing feather textures to emerge with exceptional clarity. The delicately patterned plumage and elegant crest provide visual rhythm without overwhelming the composition.
The atmospheric background remains intentionally restrained, softly framing the birds and emphasizing their sculptural presence. The result feels composed, spacious and remarkably modern in its visual restraint.
This engraving possesses unusual decorative versatility — equally compelling for collectors of antique ornithology and for interiors seeking a statement piece grounded in natural history and timeless elegance.
Hawk-eagles are admired for their agility, sharp eyesight and commanding presence within forest habitats. Their crested heads, layered plumage and powerful posture made them particularly fascinating subjects in nineteenth-century ornithological illustration.
For Victorian naturalists, birds of prey represented both beauty and precision — species admired not only for their dramatic appearance, but also for the remarkable adaptations that shaped their role within the natural world.
This engraving belongs to A History of the Birds of Ceylon, an important Victorian ornithological publication documenting the extraordinary avifauna of Sri Lanka. The plates illustrated by J.G. Keulemans remain among the most admired examples of nineteenth-century bird illustration.
Keulemans possessed an exceptional ability to transform zoological observation into compositions of lasting visual appeal, balancing scientific accuracy with quiet 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 crisp and beautifully preserved impression retaining strong original color and refined tonal depth throughout the plumage. The sheet presents an unusually bright and clean 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.