Bring the regal splendour, iridescent jewel tones, and refined botanical artistry of 19th-century British scientific illustration into your living space with this exceptional fine art poster. Designed by Scottish painter James Stewart and engraved by master printmaker William Home Lizars for Sir William Jardine’s famed series The Naturalist’s Library (1834), this magnificent hand-colored engraving depicts the rare Green Peafowl (Pavo Muticus).

Perched gracefully upon a moss-covered oak branch overlooking a soft, etched valley landscape, the peacock showcases its long, sweeping train adorned with shimmering blue-and-gold eye spots (ocelli). The vibrant emerald-green neck, cobalt wing coverts, and upright feathered crest are hand-rendered with extraordinary precision. Meticulously restored to preserve its fine copperplate line work and authentic historical inscriptions reading “PLATE 4.”, “Stewart del.t”, “Lizars sc.”, and “PAVO MUTICUS.”, this print serves as a sophisticated, timeless focal point for modern walls.

The History: During the 1830s in Edinburgh, eminent naturalist Sir William Jardine embarked on a monumental publishing project: The Naturalist’s Library (1833–1843), a 40-volume masterpiece created to make natural science accessible to the public. To illustrate the volume on Gallinaceous Birds, Jardine commissioned Scottish artist James Stewart and legendary Edinburgh engraver William Home Lizars (who notably engraved the first plates of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America). Printed on fine paper and finished with delicate hand-coloring, Stewart and Lizars’s plates of peacocks, pheasants, and exotic birds were celebrated across Europe for their artistic elegance and scientific rigor. Today, original impressions from The Naturalist’s Library are held in elite museum archives, including the Natural History Museum in London and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The Aesthetic: A masterclass in vertical composition, natural texture, and radiant color contrast, this print highlights the spectacular cascading rhythm of the peacock’s tail feathers. Stewart contrasts the brilliant emerald, sapphire, and amber plumage against a monochrome, fine-line landscape background of rolling hills and distant palm trees. Set against an open, naturally aged cream paper background with authentic 19th-century typography, this high-impact poster introduces an air of British neoclassicism, Victorian curiosity, and serene biophilic splendour to any room.

It is an ideal statement piece for:

Peacock lovers, birdwatchers, natural history scholars, art historians, and collectors of antique British engravings.
Sun-drenched living rooms, private libraries, quiet home offices, formal dining spaces, entryways, or as an anchor piece on a botanical gallery wall.
Biophilic, Japandi, modern farmhouse, French provincial, dark academia, or transitional interior design styles that value rich jewel tones and historic fine art.

Product Details

Artist: James Stewart (Scottish, 1791–1863) / Engraved by William Home Lizars (Scottish, 1788–1859)
Publisher / Series: Sir William Jardine (The Naturalist’s Library – Vol. III Gallinaceous Birds)
Title: Pavo Muticus (Green Peafowl – Plate 4)
Subject: Antique Scottish Natural History Engraving & Green Peacock Study
Original Year: c. 1834
Style: 19th-Century British Natural History / Vintage Avian Fine Art

Museum-Quality Vintage Prints

Our vintage posters are made to order using premium Giclée printing techniques. Every piece is printed on thick, heavyweight fine art paper (200gsm) with a smooth, completely matte finish.

We specifically source an acid-free, natural-toned paper that perfectly recreates the warmth and authentic character of original mid-century lithographs. Unlike standard glossy posters, our premium matte finish ensures there is zero glare when your artwork is framed behind glass, resulting in a rich, museum-quality display. Combined with long-lasting, UV-resistant pigment inks, your print is designed to remain vibrant for generations.