Audubon’s Bird Art Secrets

Undoubtedly John James Audubon and his name are synonymous with ornithology today. It won’t be an exaggeration to claim that Audubon’s Birds Of America has left an indelible mark on the world. 

The Birds of America is also considered his magnum opus. And, it is with reason as it’s a massive work that revolutionized the study of birds. It became hugely popular in Britain and was thus published in Edinburgh and London in a series of sets over almost 11 years. 

Many claim that this book sparked a global fascination with avian and life and there could be some truth in it. Anyone who goes through this magnificent book is sure to have their curiosity stirred. 

So today, we’re going to explore Audubon’s Birds Of America. To be specific, we’re going to look at the process Audubon used and the techniques he followed. No doubt, there were many controversies during the time and the book survived beyond all that. There are few copies of it and it is sold for millions of dollars today. 

A Look into John James Audubon

John James Audubon was born in 1785 in Saint-Domingue or what is now Haiti. He was a self-trained artist, an ornithologist, and a naturalist. He is renowned for his amazing contributions to the field of ornithology or the study of birds. 

It would appear that his passion for avian life began in his childhood and never quite waned. From having explored the wilderness his father noted his keen interest in studying and sketching birds, all in their natural habitat. His father bolstered and encouraged his interest by drawing his attention to fantastic birds. 

Later, his father sent him to military school in the hopes of making him a seaman and he did become a cabin boy. However, he could not continue down this path due to seasickness and his dislike of related subjects. Moreover, he then failed the officer’s qualification test and thus put an end to his naval career that never quite began. 

Fortunately, this allowed him to return to his explorations and spend time focusing on birds. In 1803, his father sent him to the US to avoid being enrolled in the Napoleonic Wars. This planted the seeds for Audubon’s Birds Of America. 

Read More Articles: East vs. West Harlem

Audubon’s Birds Of America

The Birds of America was published between the years 1827 and 1838 in a series of sets of books. This was in London and Edinburgh after the book failed to garner sufficient attention in the United States. 

The book contains 435 hand-coloured, life-sized images of birds in their habitat. These were made from engraved plates and measured approximately 39 by 26 inches. Keep in mind that five of the birds are extinct.

One of the main reasons for the popularity of this book is its high quality and artistic finesse as Art historians would describe it. Furthermore, he would paint the birds in a way that marks their identifiable features come to light. 

The Creative Process behind Audubon’s Birds of America

To begin with, Audubon stepped away from the popular trends of the time to begin his work. Most artists of the time took to oil pain as the main medium of the time. Contrary to this, Audubon started with watercolors and pastel crayons. 

Moreover, he also included the occasional pencil, charcoal, and chalk in his paintings. Besides these, he used gouache, pen, and ink. These are the tools of the great artist. 

When it came to capturing images of the birds, he used taxidermied birds to draw them beautifully. However, keep in mind that some of these specimens are not in his collection. John Kirk Townsend sent a few of them to him. He also used wires and threads to hold the birds in preferred positions. This allowed him to highlight their fine points, especially to highlight their features that allow us to identify the species. 

In short, he used a variety of methods to bring these gorgeous birds to life in his illustrations. Thanks to his creativity, we can today view birds that are long extinct as well. 

Publishing in Britain

Despite the amazing artwork, his illustrations were less than wanted in the United States. Instead, he sold his work on a subscription basis in North America and Europe. For this, he sold the copper engraving plates and they became highly popular in Europe. 

According to the information we have today, only about 120 complete sets of these exist in the present day. And, each of them contains 435 individual plates as well. 

Once he traveled to Europe, he found support in the United Kingdom. Engravers Lizars and Havell took an interest in his work and it was completed in 1938.

This original edition is also called the Havell edition as Robert Havell Jr., and his father Robert Havell Sr. oversaw the engraving and printing of the project after Lizars had to discontinue. 

Some of the early subscribers to his work in Europe include the French King Charles X and the British Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. 

Conclusion

John James Audubon’s Birds of America stands as proof of the beauty that nature holds. Not to mention, it highlights the power of human curiosity and what it can accomplish. No doubt his illustrations are extraordinary and today they offer a view of birds long gone. 

Explore more rare books at Arader Books and learn about the people who pioneered studies in various fields. 

Read More Articles: Negotiating the Best Deal: 9 Essential Skills for Business Sellers 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did Audubon take to complete Birds of America?

It took Audubon over a decade to bring to life the Birds of America. He traveled around North America to capture the beauty of avian life. 

Were all the birds in Birds of America illustrated life-sized?

Yes, Audubon worked hard to portray each bird in its real size. The book is also known as the Double Elephant Folio due to its large size. 

Is Audubon’s Birds of America a rare book?

Yes, it is considered a rare book as only about 120 complete sets of this book are known to exist today. Each copy contains 435 hand-colored plates in four volumes.