Two birds perched on mossy rocks, both reaching for the same insect.
Context
John J. Audubon’s (1785-1851) book ‘Birds of America’ was originally printed with “Double Elephant folio” engravings, meaning 435 life size images of North American birds. Between 1840 and 1869, several editions of a smaller (“octavo”) version of the book were printed. The prints found in DePaul’s collection are from this later era, and were printed by J.T. Bowen in Philadelphia. Bowen used a “camera lucida” to project the large engravings on lithographic stone which was then hand drawn and hand painted using watercolors. These smaller sized books made Audubon’s work accessible to a wider audience, and helped his art gain the reputation it still holds today.
Acquisition
Accession
5000.89
Source or Donor
Douglas Kenyon
Acquisition Method
Gift
Credit Line
Collection of DePaul University, Gift of Douglas Kenyon
