Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (*Cacatua galerita*) – Original lithograph by Green, Mathews (1910–27)

White Cockatoo: Sculptural Purity Against the Australian Light

This original early twentieth-century hand-colored lithograph depicts Cacatua galerita, the White Cockatoo, one of Australia’s most emblematic parrots. The plate forms part of The Birds of Australia, the monumental ornithological work authored by Gregory M. Mathews and illustrated here by Roland Green.

The cockatoo is portrayed in calm profile, perched upon a textured eucalyptus branch, its sulphur-yellow crest subtly raised — a restrained yet unmistakable signal of vitality within an otherwise immaculate white form.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

Green composes the figure with sculptural clarity. The plumage is rendered through delicate gradations of warm ivory and pale ash, allowing feather layering to emerge without heaviness. The controlled use of shadow beneath the wing creates volume while preserving luminosity.

The restrained palette — white, soft grey, bark-brown and the refined flash of sulphur yellow — produces an elegant chromatic balance. The bird’s black beak and dark eye anchor the composition, introducing contrast and psychological presence. The result is a plate that feels both naturalistic and quietly monumental.

About the Species

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is native to eastern and northern Australia and has long fascinated European naturalists for its intelligence and striking appearance. Its expressive crest serves as a communicative tool, raised in excitement or alarm.

By the early twentieth century, parrots such as Cacatua galerita had become symbols of Australia’s distinctive avifauna, representing both the continent’s ecological uniqueness and the expanding scientific documentation of its wildlife.

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 consistent with age. No significant defects observed.

Details

• Author: Gregory M. Mathews
• Illustrator: Roland Green (“Green del.”)
• Work: The Birds of Australia
• Species: White Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
• Period: circa 1910
• Technique: Original hand-colored lithograph
• Paper: Fine original wove paper
• Publisher: Witherby & Co.

For further insight into the artistic legacy behind this plate: Roland Green – Dynamic Vision and Field Precision