Western Smutty Parrot & Smutty Parrot (*Platycercus hilli / Platycercus venustus*) – Original lithograph by Green, Mathews (1910

Smutty Parrots: Depth, Texture, and Subtle Fire

This original early twentieth-century hand-colored lithograph depicts Platycercus hilli (Western Smutty Parrot) and Platycercus venustus (Smutty Parrot), as titled on the plate. The sheet forms part of Gregory M. Mathews’ monumental publication The Birds of Australia, illustrated by Roland Green and issued by Witherby & Co.

Two birds are arranged diagonally upon branching foliage, their bodies slightly offset in posture, creating a measured rhythm across the composition. Unlike the brighter grass-parrots of the series, these species are rendered in a darker, more complex tonal register—black scalloped upperparts, olive-scaled breast, violet wing shading, and a decisive flash of red beneath the tail.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

Roland Green approaches this plate with structural precision. The upper bird, upright and alert, balances the lower bird’s slightly more horizontal stance. This mirrored opposition gives the sheet architectural coherence. The dark scalloped patterning across the back and wings is carefully layered, producing depth and tactile richness rarely found in more brightly colored plates.

The restrained background foliage prevents visual competition, allowing the birds’ complex feather articulation to dominate. The restrained palette—black, olive, muted purple, and red—creates a sophisticated decorative presence. This is a plate that rewards close study, revealing subtle tonal transitions within what at first appears a dark chromatic field.

About the Species

The Smutty Parrots inhabit northern regions of Australia and are distinguished by their darker plumage and scaled feather structure. Unlike the flamboyant reds and yellows of other parrots, these birds embody a more subdued elegance—an evolutionary adaptation rendered here with scientific fidelity.

In Mathews’ survey, such species broaden the visual narrative of Australian avifauna, demonstrating that ornithological beauty extends beyond brilliance into complexity and tonal sophistication.

Condition Report

Very good antique condition. Fresh original hand-coloring with strong lithographic impression. Printed on fine early twentieth-century wove paper. Minor age toning slightly more visible along the outer margins, consistent with age.

Details

• Author: Gregory M. Mathews
• Illustrator: Roland Green (“Green del.”)
• Work: The Birds of Australia
• Species: Western Smutty Parrot (Platycercus hilli) and Smutty Parrot (Platycercus venustus)
• Period: circa 1910
• Technique: Original hand-colored lithograph
• Paper: Fine original wove paper
• Publisher: Witherby & Co.

For further insight into Roland Green’s contribution to ornithological illustration: Roland Green – Dynamic Vision and Field-Born Precision in Bird Art