Original hand-colored engraving depicting Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani)
  • Original hand-colored engraving depicting Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani)
  • Lucian's Puffleg – Reichenbach Antique Hummingbird Engraving
  • Lucian's Puffleg – Reichenbach Antique Hummingbird Engraving
  • Lucian's Puffleg – Reichenbach Antique Hummingbird Engraving
Original hand-colored engraving depicting Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani)
Original hand-colored engraving depicting Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

€345.00
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An original hand-colored engraving depicting Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani), one of the most distinctive high-Andean hummingbirds illustrated by Ludwig Reichenbach in Trochilinarum Enumeratio (c. 1855–1860). Drawn ad naturam ("from life"), the composition captures the remarkable white feather tufts that give pufflegs their name, together with brilliant emerald plumage and delicate yellow blossoms. Combining Victorian scientific precision with refined decorative elegance, this authentic nineteenth-century engraving remains both an important ornithological document and a striking work of natural history art.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Lucian's Puffleg: Emerald Elegance in Victorian Ornithology

This original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicts Lucian's Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani), a refined Andean hummingbird illustrated by Ludwig Reichenbach in his celebrated Trochilinarum Enumeratio. The plate combines scientific observation with a remarkably balanced decorative composition.

Two birds are shown among yellow blossoms and deep green leaves, their forms arranged with an almost symmetrical grace. The result is a composition of quiet elegance, where natural history, colour and ornamental rhythm meet with unusual harmony.

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Visual Analysis

This plate stands out for its calm visual structure and luminous green palette. The upper bird, shown frontally with extended wings, creates a strong central focus, while the lower bird introduces movement and depth. Yellow flowers provide a warm botanical accent against the dominant emerald tones.

Compared with the more dramatic red and blue plates from the same collection, this engraving offers a quieter form of beauty. Its balanced composition and soft colour harmony make it particularly suitable for studies, libraries, refined living rooms and gallery walls built around natural history subjects.

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About the Species

Eriocnemis luciani, commonly known as Lucian's Puffleg, belongs to a group of Andean hummingbirds admired for their delicate proportions, iridescent plumage and distinctive feathered legs. Reichenbach included the species in his systematic survey of hummingbirds, reflecting the nineteenth-century ambition to classify and illustrate the diversity of the natural world.

In this engraving, the male and female are represented together, allowing the viewer to appreciate both individual character and compositional balance. The plate reflects the central appeal of Reichenbach’s work: scientific classification transformed into an image of enduring visual refinement.

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Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to Ludwig Reichenbach’s remarkable world of hummingbirds, where Victorian scientific curiosity meets extraordinary visual elegance. Explore the story behind Trochilinarum Enumeratio and discover why these original hummingbird engravings remain so compelling today.

Ludwig Reichenbach and the Art of Hummingbirds →

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Condition Report

Very Good condition. Original nineteenth-century paper with strong hand-colouring, generous margins and a well-preserved impression. Visible plate mark consistent with period intaglio printing. Some small age-related marks are visible on the sheet, fully consistent with authenticity and historical character.

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Details

Species: Eriocnemis luciani
Common name: Lucian's Puffleg
Work: Trochilinarum Enumeratio
Author: Ludwig Reichenbach
Date: c. 1855–1860
Technique: Original hand-colored engraving
Plate: DCCXXX (730)
Reference number: 4671–72
Inscription: ad naturam (“drawn from life”)
Notable feature: Male and female represented on the same plate
Sheet size: approx. 28.5 × 22.5 cm

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