Scarlet Honeycreeper (*Drepanis coccinea*) - Red-chested Sunbird (*Cinnyris erythrocercus*) Original engraving by Prêtre (c1835)

Scarlet and Gold: A Tropical Study of Nectar-Birds

This striking ornithological engraving presents two vividly contrasted “Passeracei” subjects, titled on the plate as “Melliretto propriamente detto o scarlatto” (1) and “Cinnyride a placca rossa” (2). Both birds are shown as clean cabinet-style specimens—isolated against a pale ground—so that bill curvature, stance, and plumage structure can be read with immediate clarity. The composition is simple yet exceptionally powerful: one figure rendered in near-monochrome scarlet, the other built from iridescent greens and warm reds that feel almost jewel-like.

What makes this sheet especially desirable is the presence of true gold enhancement on subject 2, visible as a luminous gilded effect across the feathered areas (most notably in the head/upper plumage). The gold is not a casual highlight: it adds a refined, metallic vibration that transforms the bird’s iridescence into a genuine material luxury under light.

The plate belongs to the Italian edition of the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali (Florence, Battelli press), one of the most ambitious encyclopedic scientific enterprises of its time, for which Pierre Antoine Prêtre produced some of the most accomplished zoological illustrations of the early nineteenth century.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The plate is designed around chromatic authority. The upper bird is a pure scarlet statement—an uninterrupted field of red, tempered only by the darker wings and the long, curved bill. Its simplicity becomes its elegance: a single dominant hue, staged with generous white space, reads with modern graphic power.

The lower figure is more intricate and arguably more luxurious: layered greens, warm reds, and dark wing structure combine into a richly textured surface. Here, the true gold enhancement intensifies the sense of iridescence, producing a gilded shimmer that shifts with viewing angle. Together, the two birds create a refined “red-and-gold” dialogue—exceptionally suited to curated interiors where a small-format print is meant to carry high visual presence.

About the Subject

The terminology used on the plate reflects nineteenth-century classification, when many nectar-feeding passerines were grouped and renamed as scientific knowledge expanded through global collecting. “Cinnyride” points toward the sunbird tradition—birds known for their slender, curved bills adapted to feeding on nectar, and for plumage that can appear metallic or iridescent depending on light. In modern taxonomy, comparable forms are often associated with the sunbird family (Nectariniidae), frequently placed in or near the genus Cinnyris.

Plates like this were prized because they offered “readable” diagnostic traits: bill curvature, body proportions, and the logic of color placement. For collectors today, these subjects deliver the best of nineteenth-century natural history—scientific clarity, exquisite hand-colouring, and a rare material finish—without requiring a large format to achieve strong decorative impact.

Condition Report

The engraving is in excellent antique condition. The impression is clean and fresh, with well-preserved period hand-colouring. True gold enhancement is present on subject 2, visible as a distinct metallic brilliance on the plumage under light. The paper is smooth early nineteenth-century wove paper (non-laid), consistent with Italian scientific editions of the period. No watermark has been observed. Any minor age toning is consistent with antique paper and does not affect the plate’s visual impact.

Details

• Artist (drawn by): Pierre Antoine Prêtre (“Prêtre dip.”)
• Scientific direction: Turpin (“Turpin direx.”)
• Engraver: Corsi (“Corsi inc.”)
• Work / Publication: Dizionario di Scienze Naturali – Sacchetti Collection
• Subjects: “Melliretto propriamente detto o scarlatto” & “Cinnyride a placca rossa” (sunbird / nectar-bird group)
• Period: early 19th century (c. 1835)
• Technique: Original hand-colored copperplate engraving; true gold enhancement (subject 2)
• Paper: Original smooth wove paper
• Watermark: None observed
• Sheet size: approximately 22 × 15 cm

For further context on Pierre Antoine Prêtre and his contribution to nineteenth-century zoological illustration, see our editorial feature:

Pierre Antoine Prêtre – Illustrator of Natural Science and Marine Life