The pencil and watercolour sketch of Malurus callainus (Splendid Fairy Wren) is by Henry Constantine Richter. Richter was employed by the distinguished British ornithologist John Gould.

Gould usually drew rough sketches of birds from skins collected. These sketches were then redrawn for publication by other artists, including his wife Elizabeth, and Henry Ritcher.

This image was published in the Gould's 1869 Supplement to The birds of Australia. When published, the image appeared in reverse to the sketch after being redrawn onto the lithographic stone, printed and hand-coloured.

During his career, Richter produced more than 1,500 hand-coloured lithographs. The majority of his work was undertaken for John Gould's natural history volumes.

• Gould, John. The Birds of Australia. London: Published by the author, 1848 (London: Printed by Richard and John E. Taylor)
• Andre, Roger. 'Friends-funded artworks', Bibliofile vol. 10, no. 4, August 2002
• 'Gould commemorative issue', Emu, October 1938.
• Hankel, Valmai. 'Our very special wrens', Friends of the State Library Newsletter no.1, August 1996

• Henry Constantine Richter
• National Library of Australia. Birds! A bird in the hand