Common Kingfisher

Born and active in Nuremberg, Germany, Barbara Dietzsch became widely known in her lifetime for botanical drawings. Rarer are her depictions of birds, two of which are displayed in this gallery. Set against a wintry background, the kingfisher demonstrates her exceptional handling of opaque watercolour. With density and precision, Dietzsch conveys the bristly texture of the feathers in an almost tangible way.