Vintage Green Parrot Print
Buy this print on Etsy →A vivid flash of jungle colour, this antique print of a green parrot comes from one of the most beautiful ornithological books of the eighteenth century - Saverio Manetti's 'Storia naturale degli uccelli' (Natural History of Birds), a lavish folio produced in Florence in the 1760s and 1770s. The parrot, in glowing greens with bright accents, is rendered life-size and full of character against a soft aged ground, every feather brought to life by the delicate hand-colouring that made Manetti's plates so prized.
Commissioned by the Marquis Giovanni Gerini and overseen by the physician and botanist Saverio Manetti, the great 'Ornitologia' was an extraordinary labour of love: some six hundred birds engraved and then coloured entirely by hand, many of them exotic species that most Europeans of the day had never seen in the flesh. Parrots, with their brilliant plumage and lively expressions, were natural favourites - equal parts scientific record and pure decorative splendour.
What makes these plates so appealing today is exactly that blend of accuracy and warmth. The bird is carefully observed yet drawn with real affection and presence, its rich greens set off beautifully by the warm antique paper. It carries all the romance of a Grand Tour cabinet of curiosities, from an age when the natural world was being catalogued for the very first time.
As wall art it is a lively delight. The bright tropical palette makes it a natural for a living room, sunroom or study, a nursery or child's room, a kitchen or a colourful gallery wall, and it suits tropical, jungle, boho and eclectic interiors. It is a lovely gift for bird lovers, parrot owners, nature enthusiasts and anyone drawn to vintage ornithology and exotic decor, and it pairs beautifully with other antique bird and botanical prints.
Because the original was published in the eighteenth century, it is firmly in the public domain, which is why we can reproduce it at full museum quality.
Each print is produced on premium 189 gsm museum-grade archival matte paper, faithfully capturing the brilliant greens, fine feather detail and soft warmth of the antique paper - ready to frame and enjoy for years to come.
