An extremely rare 18 th century print with an inventive arrangement of a variety of species of singing and talking birds, including peacock, parrot, wise owl with book, swan, song birds, toucan, birds of prey, and others. This print was made after the original painting in the Breakfast Room at the famous British country house Houghton. Unfortunately, only ruins remain of this once grand house.

Mario Nuzzi, was renowned in the Italian Baroque era for his still life paintings, especially of flowers, which earned him the nickname Mario dei (or di) Fiori, which means "Mario of the flowers". His success was such that the street in Rome where he lived was named after him.

Richard Earlom was an English printmaker who worked in mezzotint, etching and occasionally stipple. He is known for the mezzotints he contributed to the famous botanical series Temple of Flora (1805) by Robert John Thornton and a set of etchings combined with mezzotint after landscape drawings by Claude Lorrain, which were published by John Boydell.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual expected light toning, soiling, soft creases, and wear. Few scattered foxing spots, mostly marginal, can be matted out.

References:

Ciggola, Riccardo. "Mario dei Fiori." Art: Artists and Architects. Italy Cyber Guide. 1999-2002. http://www.italycyberguide.com/Art/artistsarchite/fiori.htm (15 August 2002).

"Richard Earlom." The Grove Dictionary of Art. New York: Macmillan. 2000. Online at Artnet.com. http://www.artnet.com/library/02/0244/T024430.asp (5 March 2002).