Wooden Eagle

Henry Murphy

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of an eagle. The image shows a stylized brown eagle with its wings partially open, in a symmetrical view. The eagle rests on a light-colored, plain background, with textured feathers and sharp claws gripping a branch below. This style is reminiscent of John James Audubon, known for detailed bird illustrations. The pose and rendering suggest a study of anatomy and a focus on realistic representation. The shading and contouring of the feathers highlights the effort to portray the bird with a sense of three-dimensionality.