Descourtilz was a naturalist and artist with a love for the wilds of Brazil. The detail and vibrancy found in his work has secured his position as one of the world’s most renowned bird artists. 

Brilliant Birds of Brazil is illustrated with 60 folio hand-colored lithographs with most plates showing a single species. As so few copies were ever produced, it is thought that Descourtilz himself colored each plate in the collection.