Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds

Martin Johnson Heade painted this Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds in 1871, combining his twin passions for tropical flowers and exotic birds. A pink cattleya orchid dominates the left side while three Brazilian hummingbirds, including a Sappho Comet with brilliant red tail feathers, gather near a nest containing two white eggs.

Heade made three trips to Brazil in the 1860s to study hummingbirds, planning a deluxe book called "The Gems of Brazil." Though the project was abandoned, he continued painting hummingbirds with orchids through the 1870s. Using living orchids as painting subjects was pioneering at the time.

The precisely rendered flora and fauna appear alive rather than as scientific specimens. Dense tropical vegetation fills the background in blended greens and pinks. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. acquired this small panel (34.8 x 45.6 cm) in 1982.