Wilson’s flycathing-warbler – Wilson’s vliegenvanger; J. J. Audubon – 1840-1844

Description

Details

• Type: natural history print, ornithology
• Title: Wilson’s flycathing-warbler – Myiodioctes Wilsonii. No. 15 Pl. 75.
• Technique: lithograph, contemporary coloured
• Illustrator: John James Audubon
• Lithographer: John T. Bowen
• Author: John James Audubon
• Date: 1840-1844
• Published in: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories by J.J. Audubon in New York and J.B. Chevalier in Philadelphia
• Printer: E. G. Dorsey in Philadelphia.
• Size: 16.5 x 27.5 cm (6.5 by 10.8 inches)
• Verso: blank
• ID: M2100V
• Source: Nissen 51

Condition: A+

Excellent, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Beautiful print with vivid original coloring.

Uitstekend, gegeven de leeftijd. Scherpe afdruk met heldere originele kleuring. Algemene ouderdomsverschijnselen.

Backgrounds

This hand-colored lithograph comes from John James Audubon’s first octavo edition of Birds of America published from 1840 to 1844. The work was completed under the direct supervision of Audubon himself. The lithography and hand-coloring was completed by J. T. Bowen. The first edition was the only one to be completed using strictly hand-coloring.

John James Audubon (1785-1851) is the most famous American naturalist. Birds of America is one of the best examples of hand-colored work in America and is highly collectible. He was born in Haiti and grew up in France as Jean-Jacques Fougere. To evade military service under Napoleon Bonaparte, he emigrated to the United States in 1803.

John James Audubon devoted himself to an unprecedented project, becoming the first to attempt the seemingly insurmountable task of documenting all the bird life of North America. This venture grew out of a genuine and passionate interest in his subjects, and Audubon determined not only to complete a project that no one else had undertaken, but to approach it in an entirely innovative manner. His style and his persona were much like the notion of America itself: ambitious, animated, larger than life. The artist’s tireless efforts and remarkable talent culminated in the publication in London of his 435-plate Birds of America (1827-1838), undoubtedly the greatest work on birds ever produced. The celebration of this quintessentially American work, and the enterprising, talented artist who created it, has grown steadily since the time of its publication. Even before the double elephant folio edition had been completed, Audubon was planning the octavo edition in order to make his magnificent Birds of America available to a wider spectrum of people. In the introduction to the first part of his reduced format edition, Audubon wrote that he had “been frequently asked, for several years past, by numerous friends of science, both in America and Europe, to present to them and to the public a work on the Ornithology of our country, similar to my large work, but of such dimensions, and at such price, as would enable every student or lover of nature to place it in his Library.” All of the birds from Audubon’s original folio aquatints were reduced by camera lucida for lithography by the artist’s son John Woodhouse, and new species were added. The octavo edition was expanded to 500 plates, and included the text of Audubon’s “Ornithological Biography.” Because it incorporates Audubon’s text and several new plates, this edition is also considered the first complete edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, as well as the first American edition. It was beautifully printed and colored by John Bowen of Philadelphia (with the exception of Pl.136 – Pl.150 adeptly executed by Endicott in New York), one of the finest American lithographers of his day, and issued in 100 serial parts over a five-year span. Audubon’s “little work,” as he called it, was a great success, attracting nearly 1,200 subscribers and becoming the format through which Audubon’s ornithology was most widely disseminated in the nineteenth century.

Many of the birds described by John James Audubon, such as the great auk, the ivory-billed woodpecker, the Carolina parakeet and the passenger pigeon, are now extinct. ‘Birds of America’ also raised awareness of natural values. He is regarded by some as one of the founders of nature conservation. After his death, the National Audubon Society was founded. This association of more than half a million members is one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. Recently his use of slaves has been questioned.

Deze handgekleurde lithografie komt uit John James Audubon’s eerste octavo-editie van Birds of America, gepubliceerd van 1840 tot 1844. Het werk werd voltooid onder direct toezicht van Audubon zelf. De lithografie en kleuring werd voltooid door J.T. Bowen. De eerste editie was de enige die volledig met de hand werd ingekleurd.

John James Audubon (1785-1851) is de beroemdste Amerikaanse natuuronderzoeker. Birds of America is een van de beste voorbeelden van handgekleurde gravures in Amerika en wordt veel verzameld. Hij werd geboren in Haïti en groeide op in Frankrijk als Jean-Jacques Fougere. Om de militaire dienst onder Napoleon Bonaparte te ontlopen, emigreerde hij in 1803 naar de Verenigde Staten.

In Amerika ontwikkelde John James Audubon een obsessie voor vogels. In oktober 1820 begon hij in Cincinnati aan een reis met als doel om van alle vogels van Noord-Amerika een afbeelding te maken. In 1926 verscheen in Engeland een eerste uitgave met ruim vierhonderd vogelplaatjes onder de titel ‘Birds of America’. Een groot deel van de hierin opgenomen vogels waren op dat moment nog niet eerder door anderen beschreven. John James Audubon plaatste de vogels in een natuurlijke omgeving en zijn afbeeldingen waren duidelijk, nauwkeurig en levendig. ‘Birds of America’ werd wereldberoemd en vooral in Engeland werd zijn stijl van afbeelden veel nagevolgd.

Een groot deel van de door John James Audubon beschreven vogels, zoals de reuzenalk, de ivoorsnavelspecht, de carolinaparkiet en de trekduif, zijn inmiddels uitgestorven. ‘Birds of America’ kweekte ook besef van natuurwaarden. Door sommigen wordt hij gezien als een van de grondleggers van de natuurbescherming. Na zijn dood werd de National Audubon Society opgericht. Deze vereniging met meer dan een half miljoen leden is een van de belangrijkste natuurbeschermingsorganisaties in de Verenigde Staten. Recentelijk worden er vraagtekens gezet bij zijn gebruik van slaven.