Drawing. Great Bustard

By I. I. Zemlianskyi. The drawing depicts a great bustard, one of the largest representatives of the steppe avifauna of Europe. Two birds are shown in the centre of the composition in their natural habitat: one is depicted in an alert posture, while the other is searching for food among herbaceous vegetation. The artist carefully rendered the characteristic features of the birds, including their mottled reddish-brown plumage, long necks, sturdy legs, and pale underparts, allowing the species to be accurately identified.

The background depicts an open steppe landscape with broad expanses and low vegetation, typical of the great bustard’s natural habitat. The concise artistic treatment combines aesthetic expressiveness with scientific accuracy.

The attention given to the bird’s anatomy and behaviour indicates the artist’s intention not only to create an artistic image but also to record important identifying features of the species.

Provenance: The drawing was donated to the museum by V. M. Samorodov in 2021.