Very Rare - Audubon 1st Ed. Octavo - Brown Thrasher - Plate 141
Item History & Price
Very Rare original John James Audubon lithograph Golden Eagle Gallery is pleased to offer Audubon's magnificent masterpiece portrait of the Ferruginous Mocking Bird[Brown Thrasher] Audubon created the priceless original painting that this lithograph is based on in 1829.
In describing this work Audubon wrote, "Reader, look attentively at the plate before you, and say if such a scene as that which I have attempted to portray, is not ...calculated to excite the compassion of any one who is an admirer of woodland melody, or who sympathizes with the courageous spirit which the male birds [two males are directly facing the black snake] shews, as he defends his nest, and exerts all his powers to extricate his beloved mate from the coils of the vile snake which has already nearly deprived her of life." Audubon reported that in this instance the thrashers lost their nest and their eggs but that "... the snake was finally conquered, and a jubilee held over its carcass by a crowd of thrushes and other birds, until the woods resounded with their notes of exultation. I was happy in contributing my share to the general joy, for, on taking the almost expiring bird into my hand for a few minutes, she recovered in some degree, and I restored her to her anxious mate." The nest is in a black-Jack oak or scrub oak.
This antique lithograph was drawn on stone and printed under Audubon's direct supervision by one of America's finest early 19th century print maker, George Endicott of New York, and hand-colored by J.W. Childs, also of New York and published in a limited edition of 1, 500 copies.
This piece of fine art is Plate 141 from the 1st Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America.It was published in June 8, 1841 as part of the original subscription edition of that great work and is now 178 years old!
Audubon made this portrait of a nesting family of Brown Thrashers under attack Plate 116 of the Havell Edition of his magnum opus, Birds of America. This fine composition is highly sought after by serious collectors of natural history art. *******************************************************************************************************************************This extremely rare antique lithograph is in over all excellent condition with rich original hand coloring. The thick wove cotton rag sheet is evenly age-toned as appropriate for a work approaching two centuries in age, some soft handling creases. Sheet measures 10 1/2 in. x 6 5/8 in., with full margins. Original binding edge present along the lower edge.This piece of early 19th century fine art would be an ideal gift.
Audubon was influenced by and yet transformed the tradition of natural history art illustration by placing his subjects in their natural settings and in extraordinary life-like positions. His predecessors and successors notably included Mark Catesby, Alexander Wilson, John Gould, Prideaux John Selby, George Edwards, Edward Lear, Cornelius Nozeman, Eleazar Albin, Xaverio Manetti, Titian Ramsay Peale, Walton Ford and others.
In describing this work Audubon wrote, "Reader, look attentively at the plate before you, and say if such a scene as that which I have attempted to portray, is not ...calculated to excite the compassion of any one who is an admirer of woodland melody, or who sympathizes with the courageous spirit which the male birds [two males are directly facing the black snake] shews, as he defends his nest, and exerts all his powers to extricate his beloved mate from the coils of the vile snake which has already nearly deprived her of life." Audubon reported that in this instance the thrashers lost their nest and their eggs but that "... the snake was finally conquered, and a jubilee held over its carcass by a crowd of thrushes and other birds, until the woods resounded with their notes of exultation. I was happy in contributing my share to the general joy, for, on taking the almost expiring bird into my hand for a few minutes, she recovered in some degree, and I restored her to her anxious mate." The nest is in a black-Jack oak or scrub oak.
This antique lithograph was drawn on stone and printed under Audubon's direct supervision by one of America's finest early 19th century print maker, George Endicott of New York, and hand-colored by J.W. Childs, also of New York and published in a limited edition of 1, 500 copies.
This piece of fine art is Plate 141 from the 1st Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America.It was published in June 8, 1841 as part of the original subscription edition of that great work and is now 178 years old!
Audubon made this portrait of a nesting family of Brown Thrashers under attack Plate 116 of the Havell Edition of his magnum opus, Birds of America. This fine composition is highly sought after by serious collectors of natural history art. *******************************************************************************************************************************This extremely rare antique lithograph is in over all excellent condition with rich original hand coloring. The thick wove cotton rag sheet is evenly age-toned as appropriate for a work approaching two centuries in age, some soft handling creases. Sheet measures 10 1/2 in. x 6 5/8 in., with full margins. Original binding edge present along the lower edge.This piece of early 19th century fine art would be an ideal gift.
Audubon was influenced by and yet transformed the tradition of natural history art illustration by placing his subjects in their natural settings and in extraordinary life-like positions. His predecessors and successors notably included Mark Catesby, Alexander Wilson, John Gould, Prideaux John Selby, George Edwards, Edward Lear, Cornelius Nozeman, Eleazar Albin, Xaverio Manetti, Titian Ramsay Peale, Walton Ford and others.
