Two of the watercolors in the c.1733 portfolio display unidentified birds of prey, surrounded by objects of falconry. Falconry, a hunting sport, used trained hawks or falcons to capture and bring back prey. Falconry began in Asia 4000–2000 BC and by the 18th century in England was only a sport of the upper-class. In this watercolor Edwards depicts an unidentified hawk or falcon perched on a falconer’s gloved hand. Falconer’s wore heavy leather gloves to protect themselves from the birds’ sharp and powerful talons. The glove pictured has heavy trim, embroidered with blue and red flowers. Looped through the falconer’s pinky finger and hanging down, is a highly decorated falconry hood with a plume of pink feathers. Hoods were used to calm newly captured birds and quiet the birds during training; the hoods covered the birds’ eyes completely and trained the bird to attend to its owner’s voice. Attached to each of the bird’s legs is a tiny falconry bell, used by the falconer to keep track of their specific bird.
Unidentified Goshawk
George Edwards England, 1733
Watercolor on paper
Courtesy of the Collection of Deen Day Sanders
This is part of a special online exhibit titled, Flights of Fancy: An Exploration of Uncommon Birds. To view more please visit:
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