Passion Flowers with Three Hummingbirds

In 1863, Martin Johnson Heade made the first of three trips to Central and South America. The impact of his time in the rain forest—then largely unknown to United States viewers—resonated for the rest of his career. Heade became fascinated with hummingbirds, which he depicted feeding from exotic flowers in misty settings. This work is unique among Heade’s fifty-some scenes in the series. It is not only one of the largest, but also the only one to feature three birds.