Parrots, Macaws, and Cockatoos: The Art of Elizabeth Butterworth

The hyacinthine macaw and the umbrella cockatoo are among the more flamboyant subjects of this poster-size collection, which comprises 26 meticulous renderings of tropical birds executed in oils, watercolors, pen and ink, and gouache. A keen eye, sure hand, facility with color and evident fascination with exotic aviary make British artist Butterworth highly proficient in her craft. Disappointingly, the extremely accurate, photorealistic studies lack the originality or expressiveness that might elevate them to a more enduring art form. While readers with a specific interest in birds should welcome this slim volume as a fine visual catalogue of the subtle variations in feather formation and coloring that distinguish over two-dozen parrot-related species, few plates stand on compositional integrity. The majority, suggesting pages from a naturalist's notebooks, are likely to leave a lay audience uninspired and thus dissatisfied by the absence of an accompanying text beyond Butterworth's brief, introductory remarks about parrots and their classification, extinction and personal appeal. (April)