Pair 1794 William Hayes Handcolored Bird Engraving Pheasants One Signed Charles

  
Both are of Pheasants Tilted. Each piece measures 8" x 10" Framed to 15" x 16.5".

Pencilled Chinese Pheasant Male is signed "Ch Hayes" in ink lower right edge. Very rare engravings from the first edition of William Hayes "Portraits of Rare and Curious Birds" published between 1794 and 1795 in London. When Hayes issued this work, it was the first published systematic record of a single private collection of live birds. In order to complete the work, he employed his children to produce the illustrations: seven members of his family collaborated on the venture. Hayes draw the birds and much like James Audubon, depicted birds at life size whenever possible.

His wife Anne, his children Charles, William, Annette, Emily, Maria and Matilda hand-colored the prints and many of them are hand signed in the artwork. The birds Hayes chose are wonderfully illustrated with as life coloring and include species native to Great Britain and Europe. Good condition with small foxing and tanning expected with the age of these pieces. Framed and matted under glass.