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
Made/Created
Artist
Audubon, John J.
Date made
1840 - 1844
Ethnography
Notes
North America
United States
North America, United States
Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Inscription
Location
T
Transcription
No. 6 P126
Material/Technique
in print
Type
Inscription
Location
bottom
Transcription
Common Harrier. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon FRSFLS Lith 3 Printed 8 Col. d by J. T. Brown. Phulad. a
