ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Martin Johnson Heade's 'Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds' Featured in Online Collection

cultural-heritage · 2026-04-16

Martin Johnson Heade's 1871 painting 'Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds' is held in the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C. The oil on wood work measures 14 by 18 inches (35 by 46 centimeters). Heade's distinctive focus on exotic flora and fauna is exemplified here through a vibrant pink orchid set against a misty forest backdrop. Three rare hummingbirds and a nest containing eggs complete the composition. While Heade also created notable landscapes, his depictions of tropical birds and flowers remain his most celebrated subjects. The National Gallery of Art provides a high-resolution downloadable image of this painting through its digital collection.

Key facts

  • Martin Johnson Heade painted 'Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds' in 1871
  • The painting measures 14 x 18 inches (35 x 46 cm)
  • It is executed in oil on wood
  • The artwork is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
  • The painting features a pink orchid against a misty forest background
  • Three rare hummingbirds are depicted in the composition
  • A nest with eggs is included in the scene
  • The National Gallery of Art offers a downloadable high-resolution image of the painting

Entities

Artists

  • Martin Johnson Heade

Institutions

Locations

  • Washington, D.C.
  • United States

Sources