Original hand-colored engraving depicting Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis)
  • Original hand-colored engraving depicting Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis)
  • Purple-throated Carib – Reichenbach Antique Hummingbird Engraving
  • Purple-throated Carib – Reichenbach Antique Hummingbird Engraving
Original hand-colored engraving depicting Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis)
Original hand-colored engraving depicting Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis) Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

€375.00
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Original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicting the Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis), one of the most spectacular Caribbean hummingbirds illustrated in Ludwig Reichenbach’s Trochilinarum Enumeratio.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Rham's Brilliant and Brassavola Orchid: Ruby, Sapphire and Botanical Elegance

This original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicts Rham's Brilliant (Heliodoxa rhami), one of the richly coloured hummingbirds illustrated by Ludwig Reichenbach in his celebrated Trochilinarum Enumeratio. The plate combines scientific precision with a highly decorative tropical composition.

Two hummingbirds are shown around a large white orchid, their ruby throats, sapphire-blue breasts and emerald-green plumage creating an image of exceptional chromatic richness. The contrast between the birds and the pale botanical subject gives the engraving a refined, luminous presence.

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Visual Analysis

Among Reichenbach’s hummingbird engravings, this plate stands out for its dramatic balance between jewel-like colour and botanical elegance. The large orchid acts almost as a stage for the birds, while the red, blue and green tones create a vivid yet harmonious visual rhythm.

The composition is especially effective as decorative natural history art: refined, legible and rich in colour without feeling crowded. Its combination of tropical bird life and orchid imagery makes it particularly suitable for studies, libraries, refined living rooms and curated gallery walls.

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About the Species

Heliodoxa rhami, commonly known as Rham's Brilliant, was recorded by Reichenbach from Mexico. The species belongs to a group of hummingbirds admired for their luminous plumage and powerful colour contrasts, qualities that made them especially attractive to nineteenth-century ornithologists and illustrators.

In this engraving, Reichenbach pairs the birds with Brassavola digbyana, a striking orchid whose pale flower amplifies the brilliance of the hummingbirds. The result is a refined example of Victorian natural history illustration, where scientific observation and decorative beauty work together.

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The Botanical Setting

Reichenbach associated this plate with Brassavola digbyana Lindl., a highly distinctive orchid whose large pale flower becomes one of the visual anchors of the composition. Its sculptural form gives the engraving an almost theatrical structure, framing the hummingbirds and intensifying the contrast with their ruby, sapphire and emerald tones.

The botanical element is therefore not a secondary ornament, but an essential part of the plate’s natural history language. Bird and orchid are presented together as a complete tropical scene, reflecting the close relationship between hummingbirds and the nectar-bearing flowers that shaped their ecology and fascinated nineteenth-century observers.

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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. Minor age-related marks may be present, fully consistent with authenticity and historical character.

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Details

Species: Heliodoxa rhami
Common name: Rham's Brilliant
Work: Trochilinarum Enumeratio
Author: Ludwig Reichenbach
Date: c. 1855–1860
Technique: Original hand-colored engraving
Plate: DCCXLVI (746)
Reference number: 4712–13
Inscription: ad naturam (“drawn from life”)
Associated plant: Brassavola digbyana Lindl.
Origin noted by Reichenbach: Mexico
Sheet size: approx. 28.5 × 22.5 cm

U15
1 Item

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