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Catalog Data

Referenced:
Audubon, John James  Search this
Havell, Jr., Robert  Search this
Original artist:
Audubon, John James  Search this
Graphic artist:
Havell, Jr., Robert  Search this
Physical Description:
copper (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 99.4 cm x 66.2 cm x 2.4 mm; 39 1/8 in x 26 1/16 in x 3/32 in
Object Name:
plate
plate, printing
Object Type:
Engraving
printing plates
Aquatint
Place made:
United Kingdom: England, London
Date made:
1835
Description:
Robert Havell Jr. engraved this copper plate in 1835 for John James Audubon's publication, <U>Birds of America</U>, published in Britain between 1827 and 1838 as a series of large folio engravings. The Museum's Graphic Arts Collection includes seven of the original copper plates and prints from several editions of the work.
<U>Birds of America</U> was published in several formats. The first large folio edition was intended for wealthy patrons or institutions. Later editions, produced in the United States for a more general audience, included text and smaller, less costly lithographic illustrations.
Audubon introduced new species and new artistic forms. His dramatic images of birds, pictured life-size in animated poses with realistic backgrounds, represented a departure from the conventions of natural history illustration. His artistic ingenuity, as reproduced in engravings and lithographs, won new audiences for the subject of nature study, eventually leading to the organization of Audubon societies.
Location:
Currently not on view
Subject:
Printmaking  Search this
Birds  Search this
Credit Line:
William E. Dodge, Jr.
ID Number:
GA.16986
Accession number:
15996
Catalog number:
16986
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
Natural Resources
Art
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-16b6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_882231