Since the Middle Ages the parrot has represented the Virgin birth of Christ, or acted as an eye-witness to the Fall of Man. It has also been celebrated as a dom... » 

Since the Middle Ages the parrot has represented the Virgin birth of Christ, or acted as an eye-witness to the Fall of Man. It has also been celebrated as a domestic pet, featuring more prominently in Dutch scenes of ordinary life than in any other category of painting. In addition to making frequent appearances in still lifes and portraits, it sometimes impersonates or stands in for people, plays the role of a woman's surrogate lover, or mocks and comments on the follies of human behaviour." "Richard Verdi presents works from all genres and periods, by artists including Durer, Steen, Tiepolo, Goya and Quentin Blake. He also encompasses the distinct but related field of natural history illustration with examples by Ferdinand Bauer, Edward Lear and Elizabeth Butterworth. «