Audubon’s Aviary Gallery Tour

Speaker: 
Roberta Olson
Mon, 04/22/2013 - 11:00am

Note: This event is sold out

 

EVENT DETAILS

This spring, the New-York Historical Society celebrates the sesquicentennial of its purchase of the 470 avian watercolors by Audubon, including the 435 models for The Birds of America, from Lucy Bakewell Audubon in 1863.

Northern Parula (Parula americana), Study for Havell pl. no. 15

Object name 
Northern Parula (Parula americana), Study for Havell pl. no. 15
Date 
1821
Medium 
Watercolor, pastel, black ink, graphite, and gouache with selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
18 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (47 x 29.5 cm)
Credit Line 
New-York Historical Society, Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.17.15
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Audubon: National Treasures—Birds of Winter for The Birds of America (1827–38)

Jan 7 2013 - Feb 24 2013

Looking at these four watercolors you are enjoying an experience similar to that of John James Audubon’s (1785–1851) original subscribers to The Birds of America (1827-38). The watercolors are rotated on a quarterly basis to limit the potential damage caused by their exposure, ensuring that these national treasures are available to future generations.

With Victor Gifford Audubon (1809–1860)
Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), Havell plate no. 368, ca. 1836–37
Watercolor, graphite, oil, gouache, black ink, pastel, and black chalk with touches of
glazing on paper, laid on card
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon,
1863.17.368

Right:

Smew (Mergellus albellus), Havell plate no. 347, ca. 1834–35
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, oil, and black ink with scratching out and touches of glazing
on paper, laid on card
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon,
1863.17.347

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

Title
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
Date 
c. 1810-12
Medium 
Pastel, watercolor, and graphite with touches of gouache and black ink on paper, laid on card with 1863.18.8
Dimensions 
Paper: 16 9/16 x 10 1/2 in. (42.1 x 26.7 cm)Mat: 29 x 35 in. (73.7 x 88.9 cm)
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.18.7
Inscriptions 
Inscribed in graphite and brown ink at lower center[over erased inscriptions]: "Wren Male & femelle -- alike / Certhia...[cut]"; at lower right in graphite: "No 47"
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Title
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Date 
c. 1831
Medium 
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, gouache, white lead pigment, black ink, and black chalk with selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
Paper: 37 7/16 x 25 9/16 in. (95.1 x 64.9 cm)Mat: 53 x 39 in. (134.6 x 99.1 cm)
Description 
Adult, breeding plumage
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.18.30
Marks 
Watermark: JWHATMAN / 18[?]
Gallery Label 
The background flora has been identified as
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Study for Havell pl. no. 173

Title
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Study for Havell pl. no. 173
Date 
1832
Medium 
Watercolor, pastel, graphite, black ink, and gouache with scratching out, scraping, and selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
Paper: 21 1/16 x 13 3/4 in. (53.5 x 34.9 cm)Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Description 
Male, left; female, right
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.17.173
Marks 
Watermark: JWHATMAN / 1830
Inscriptions 
Birds numbered in graphite left and right respectively: "1"; "2"; at upper right: "73"
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana), Study for Havell pl. no. 168

Title
Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana), Study for Havell pl. no. 168
Date 
1832
Medium 
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, black ink, and gouache with selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
Paper: 21 9/16 x 14 1/8 in. (54.8 x 35.9 cm)Mat: 35 x 27 in. (88.9 x 68.6 cm)
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.17.168
Inscriptions 
Inscribed vertically along lower left margin in brown ink below outline diagram of feather: "Shape of the th...ies of / the first 3 primaries"; at lower center: "Lobloly Bay -- "; at lower right: "Gordonia / Lasianthus / Mirt[? cut]"
Gallery Label 
The background flora has been identified as Loblolly-bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Study for Havell pl. no. 83

Title
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Study for Havell pl. no. 83
Date 
before 1829
Medium 
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, gouache, black chalk, and touches of black ink on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
Paper: 19 3/16 x 11 5/8 in. (48.7 x 29.5 cm)Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Description 
Female feeding young, left; adult male, right
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.17.83
Inscriptions 
Inscribed at lower left in brown ink: "No 17. Plate 83."; at lower center: "House Wren. Male 1. F. 2. Young 3.4.5"; below in graphite[erased]: "Troglodytes Aedon[crossed out] aedon / ad / aedon[crossed out] / ...[illegible]"; birds numbered in brown ink counterclockwise from upper center: "1"; "2"; "3"; "4"; "5"
Gallery Label 
House wren perched on hat made in PA in 1812; painting completed ca. 1824; 2 colored engravings and copper plate (1946.167) in N-YHS collections; 1812 picture in the collection of the Houghton Library, Harvard University; there is also an oil copy made by Kidd in the PA Academy of Fine Arts
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Study for Havell pl. no. 137

Title
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Study for Havell pl. no. 137
Date 
1829
Medium 
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, black chalk, gouache, white lead pigment, and black ink with selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
Paper: 29 5/16 x 21 1/16 in. (74.5 x 53.5 cm)Mat: 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)
Description 
Males above; female on nest
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.17.137
Inscriptions 
Inscribed at lower left in brown ink: "Yellow-breasted Chat males 1.2.3.4. F.e 5. / Icteria viridis.--- Plant Vulgo- Sweet Briar. / From Nature by John J. Audubon F.L.S. / June 7th Jersey"; below, in graphite[erased]: "...Rosa rubiginosa..."; to right of upper bird: "Not be / engraved"; four male birds each numbered: "1"; female on nest numbered: "2"
Gallery Label 
The background flora has been identified as Rose (possibly Rosa virginiana) or Sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa)
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), Study for Havell pl. no. 129

Title
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), Study for Havell pl. no. 129
Date 
c. 1824
Medium 
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black chalk with touches of black ink and gouache, and selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions 
Paper: 18 5/8 x 11 1/2 in. (47.3 x 29.2 cm)Mat: 34 x 26 in. (86.4 x 66 cm)
Description 
Males
Credit Line 
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number 
1863.17.129
Marks 
Watermark: TURKEY MILLS / JWHATMAN
Inscriptions 
Inscribed at lower left in graphite[erased]: "April 17th"; at upper right corner, vertically: "29"
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
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