john james audubon: a story of love, death and paintings
The most famous painter of birds in the world was an ardent hunter. As he said himself: . He would then fix the bird into whatever required posture by using wire and he would then draw the “naturally dead” creature.
He was the first to ring birds and was thus able to carry out valuable research into bird migration patterns. He loved birds. Loved them and killed them. . With his painting equipment and rifle strapped across his back, he travelled far and wide with the intention of painting all the birds in the places he passed through. On a trip to England in 1826, he showed his drawing technique to many researchers. One of those students was Charles Dickens.
He was the illegitimate son of a French captain, born in Haiti. He grew up in France and escaped the Napoleonic War to the United States. We don’t have the space here to talk of the ups and downs of Audubon’s life. This is just an invitation to enjoy his marvellous bird illustrations. His book Birds of America, as well as being a type of ornithological bible, is full of incredible drawings still capable of leaving the viewer stunned 200 years after it was originally published.
He was the first to ring birds and was thus able to carry out valuable research into bird migration patterns. He loved birds. Loved them and killed them. . With his painting equipment and rifle strapped across his back, he travelled far and wide with the intention of painting all the birds in the places he passed through. On a trip to England in 1826, he showed his drawing technique to many researchers. One of those students was Charles Dickens.
He was the illegitimate son of a French captain, born in Haiti. He grew up in France and escaped the Napoleonic War to the United States. We don’t have the space here to talk of the ups and downs of Audubon’s life. This is just an invitation to enjoy his marvellous bird illustrations. His book Birds of America, as well as being a type of ornithological bible, is full of incredible drawings still capable of leaving the viewer stunned 200 years after it was originally published.
