John james audubon april 26, 1785 january 27, 1851 was a frenchamerican ornithologist, naturalist, hunter, and painter. The birds of america is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also the most valuable a complete set sold at auction in december 2010 for gbp7. One of the most valuable natural history books ever published, it shows birds in natural. The audubon reader by john james audubon, hardcover.
John james audubon books list of books by author john. The national geographic guide to birding in north america the great. The sale was led by the birds of america 182738, four monumental volumes of 435. His writings are now considered a literary treasure. The birds of america, from drawings made in the united states and their territories. John james audubon 1785 1851 was an ornithologist of the early 19th century responsible for creating the largest and most beautiful illustrated bird book. With an avid interest in birds and drawing right from his childhood days, audubon went on to be the most distinguished illustrator. The birds of america by john james audubon in pictures. The audubon birds coloring book by john james audubon. Using a variety of materials to create a highly dramatic style, he painted almost 500 species of the 700 or so regularly occurring north american bird species. Audubon vividly captures the remarkable life of john james audubon. The white house historical associationwikimedia commons interviews. John james audubon john james audubon 1785 1851 was born in les cayes, saintdomingue now haiti.
Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. Fullcolor reproductions of sixteen of audubons stunning watercolor illustrations accompany the text. Birds of america flamingo by john james audubon 9 x 12 inch needlepoint canvas. Hosting the films world premiere at the 2015 environmental film festival in the nations capital allowed us to honor audubon and his significance as an artist and conservationist. Fullpage coloring guides are shown opposite john james audubons original. The book, published by the natural history museum in london, contains 435 large hand coloured prints of engravings by john james audubon. John james audubon 17851851 was for half a century north americas dominant nature artist, as well as the first in the region to conduct birdbanding. He was the son of jean audubon, a french adventurer, and mademoiselle rabin, about whom little is known except that she was a creole and died soon after her sons birth. The book features 435 paintings of north american birds by naturalist and artist john james audubon. John james audubon 17851851 was for half a century north americas dominant nature artist, as well as the first in the region to conduct birdbanding experiments. Born in haiti in 1785, he spent much of his life travelling north.
A synopsis of the birds of north america by john james. First, it was a moneymaker, successfully marketed throughout the united states on a scale that the great cost of the original. John james audubon, also known as jeanjacques audubon, was one of the major contributors of masterpieces to american art. John james audubons the birds of america book has long been one. Birds of america by john james audubon 1946 hb the birds of america is an intriging book by author, john james audubon. When he arrived however at the academy of natural sciences in philadelphia, armed with his portfolio, he made the mistake of boasting that he had seen wilsons work and that it. As part of my research for the lost bird project, i was graciously given access to the audubon double folio housed in the rare books library at cornell unive. Indulge your love of birds with this beautiful collection of images for coloring. The audubon family was unable to sell the edition or recoup their losses. Highresolution images courtesy of the john james audubon center at mill grove, audubon, pa, and the montgomery county, pa, audubon collection. In the 1830s audubon also wrote his ornithological biography which described the habits of the birds he drew. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for.
John james audubon and the making of the birds of america william souder. The university of pittsburgh is fortunate to own one of the rare, complete sets of john james audubons birds of america. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all. His seminal birds of america, a collection of 435 lifesize prints. John james audubgon was born april 26, 1785 at aux cayes, the son of a french naval officer. Get the best deals on john james audubon art prints when you shop the largest online selection at. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons. For pleasure or as a spiritual discipline, birdwatching is a lesson in respect and humility major works. John james audubon dreamed of creating lifesized portraits of every species of bird in north america.
Consequently, in 1863, lucy audubon sold 471 of john james audubons original watercolors, of which. The national audubon society was founded in 1886 by george bird grinnell in memory of naturalist and artist john james audubon. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north. The birds of america, the viviparous quadrupeds of north america achieved an impressive 3,770,000 usd. A guide to field identification golden field guide from st. John james audubon biography facts, childhood, family. John james audubon audubon house gallery of natural history.
Audubon documented americas 1065 birds for his book birds of america. John james audubons five mystery birds posted by jason kottke mar 07, 2017 over a period of thirteen years beginning in the 1820s, john james audubon painted 435 different species of american birds. A synopsis of the birds of north america by john james audubon free ebook project gutenberg. First edition of john james audubons birds of america book sold. In 1824, three years after audubon began birds of america in earnest, he was ready to publish. See more ideas about john james audubon, audubon birds, birds. Though the societys focus is the preservation and study of. John james audubon is best known for the birds of america, a book of 435 images, portraits of every bird then known in the united states painted and reproduced in the size of life.
Naturalist john james audubon, who was born april 26, 1785, first rose to fame through the 435 magnificent paintings he created for his landmark work, birds of. John james audubon 17851851 was not the first person to attempt to paint and describe all the birds of america alexander wilson has that distinction, but for half a century he was the young countrys dominant wildlife artist. The story behind john james audubons birds of america. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. John james audubon 17851851 illustration from birds of america. John james audubon was born in saint dominigue now haiti on april 26, 1785. John james audubon jeanjacques audubon april 26, 1785 january 27, 1851 was a french american ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris. A selection of the original drawings and watercolors used in the making of birds of america accompanied by a choice of audubons writings, 2004. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james first.
On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubons doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. Birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured. The birds of america was a monumental work by an artist and naturalist obsessed with his work.
Isbn 9781558591288 9781558591288 hardcover, abbeville press, 2003. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the united states. The portraits, when bound, became some of the biggest. This first edition of birds of america by john james audubon, originally bought by the duke of portland some time after 1828, is expected to become the worlds most expensive book when it is. In addition to the stunning colors and detail in audubons work, it is noteworthy also because of its ambitious scope. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. He interspersed these bird biographies with episodes on life in america during this turbulent period.
The octavo edition of audubons the birds of america is certainly the most famous and accessible of american books. The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. John james audubon simple english wikipedia, the free. See more ideas about john james audubon, birds of america and audubon birds. John james audubon biography life, family, children. John james audubon is undoubtedly one of the greatest nature painters and writers in history. It was printed by macmillan company in 1946 and it is a fifth edition. Carolina parrot carolina parrot, handcoloured engraving and aquatint by robert havell, jr. April 26, 1785 january 27, 1851 was an american ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. Jean audubon, was a french merchant captain and planter, his mother, jeanne rabine, a french domestic who died when he was an. A precise replica of the complete works of john james audubon, comprising the birds of america 184044 and the quadrupeds of north america 185154 in.