William Herschel discovered NGC 4190 = H II-409 on 1 May 1785 (sweep 405) and logged "vF, S, r." His summary description (including a later sweep) reads "pB, pL, vgbM, r."

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/12/86): fairly faint, moderately large, round, diffuse. A mag 8 star lies 6' N.

400/500mm - 17.5" fairly faint, moderately large, broad weak concentration, pretty diffuse, slightly elongated N-S. Located 7' S of mag 8.5 SAO 62902. Member of the M94 Group (CVn I Cloud).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb