Very Rare - Audubon 1st Ed. Octavo - Wild Turkey - Plate 288
Item History & Price
Very Rare original John James Audubon lithograph Golden Eagle Gallery is pleased to offer Audubon's magnificent masterpiece portrait of the female Wild Turkey Audubon observed this charming wild turkey hen "leading her young progeny, with measured step and watchful eye, through the intricacies of the forest. The chickens, still covered with down, are running among her feet in pursuit of insects. One is preening its sprouting p...lumelets, while another is ridding itself of a tick which has fastened upon its little wing".Audubon created the priceless original painting that this lithograph is based on during his trip down the Mississippi in the Autumn of 1820. The original portrait of this mature wild turkey hen began as a pastel study. Some time later, using watercolor, Audubon added the sprightly brood of chicks, and later still, he used oil paints to fill in the habitat, making this one of only a few examples in his entire oeuvre that combine these three mediums. He later made this portrait of the Wild Turkey Hen Plate No. VI in both the Lizars & Havell Editions of his magnum opus, Birds of America. This antique lithograph was drawn on stone by master lithographer John Collins, whose initials "J.C." appear beneath the center of the image. It was printed and hand-colored under Audubon's direct supervision by America's finest early 19th century print maker, J.T. Bowen's lithographic establishment in Philadelphia, and published in a limited edition of 1, 050 copies by J.B. Chevalier, also of Philadelphia. This piece of fine art is Plate 288 from the 1st Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America.It was published on June 25, 1842 as part of the original subscription edition of that great work and is now more than 177 years old! This antique stone lithograph with original hand coloring is a fine composition and 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, see detailed pictures. Sheet measures 6 5/8 in. x 10 1/2 in., with full margins. Evidence of original binding 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.
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, see detailed pictures. Sheet measures 6 5/8 in. x 10 1/2 in., with full margins. Evidence of original binding 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.
