Bring the vibrant brilliance, exotic charm, and refined botanical precision of 19th-century French natural history art into your living space with this exceptional fine art poster. Created by celebrated French ornithologist and painter Jean-Théodore Descourtilz, this breathtaking plate—titled Oiseau-mouche chatoyant sur un Tillandsia—was published in Paris in 1834 for his legendary masterwork Oiseaux brillans et remarquables du Brésil.

Depicting an iridescent green hummingbird (Oiseau-mouche chatoyant) hovering with extended ruby-and-amber tail feathers near a blooming pink Tillandsia bromeliad, the composition also features a beautifully patterned butterfly (Vanessa Antigone) fluttering alongside delicate blue-and-yellow floral buds. Meticulously restored to preserve its fine lithographic detail and authentic French copperplate cursive reading “Oiseau-mouche chatoyant sur un Tillandsia” and “Vanessa Antigone”, this print provides a captivating, tropical visual focal point for modern walls.

The History: Jean-Théodore Descourtilz (c. 1796–1855) was a French naturalist and artist who worked extensively in South America, documenting Brazil’s rich tropical fauna and flora for the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. In 1834, he published Oiseaux brillans et remarquables du Brésil (Brilliant and Remarkable Birds of Brazil), widely considered one of the rarest and most magnificent hand-colored bird folios ever produced. Unlike traditional scientific studies that depicted birds in isolation, Descourtilz uniquely paired each avian species with its native food sources, orchids, bromeliads, and insect companions. Today, original hand-colored lithographs from Descourtilz’s Brazilian folios are preserved in world-class museum archives and natural history libraries as celebrated masterpieces of 19th-century scientific illustration.

The Aesthetic: A masterclass in tropical color balance, natural symmetry, and organic movement, this composition draws the eye to the shimmering emerald body and striking reddish-amber tail of the hummingbird as it hovers above the flower. Descourtilz pairs soft rose-pink bromeliad bracts with powder-blue florets and thick, curving green tillandsia leaves, complemented by the dark velvet wings and red accents of the Vanessa butterfly. Set against an open, naturally aged cream paper background with authentic period calligraphy, this high-contrast print introduces an air of French neoclassicism, tropical sophistication, and serene biophilic beauty to any room.

It is an ideal statement piece for:

Birdwatchers, hummingbird enthusiasts, tropical plant lovers, botanists, lepidopterists, and collectors of antique French natural history lithographs.
Sun-drenched living rooms, private libraries, quiet home offices, dining alcoves, entryways, or as a vibrant anchor on a botanical gallery wall.
Biophilic, tropical modern, Japandi, modern farmhouse, French provincial, or transitional interior design styles that value rich natural colors and historic fine art.

Product Details

Artist: Jean-Théodore Descourtilz (French, c. 1796–1855)

Title: Oiseau-Mouche Chatoyant sur un Tillandsia (Oiseaux brillans et remarquables du Brésil)

Subject: Antique French Natural History Lithograph & Hummingbird / Tillandsia Study

Original Year: 1834

Style: 19th-Century French Natural History / Vintage Tropical 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.