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VOL. 46, NO. 10 FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015
The New-York Historical Society Will Present The Last Installment Of
“Audubon’s Aviary: The Final Flight” Exhibit Will Be On View From March 6 To May 10 his spring, the New-York Historical Society will conclude its acclaimed series of once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions celebrating the legendary John James Audubon’s original watercolor models for “The Birds of America (1827-38).” “Audubon’s Aviary: The Final Flight (Part III of The Complete Flock)” will offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the evolution of Audubon’s dazzling watercolors in the order in which they were engraved. In this final installment of the series of three exhibitions, New-York Historical will showcase the final selection of masterpieces from its collection of Audubon’s watercolor models for the double-elephantfolio print edition of “The Birds of America.” The museum holds all 435 watercolor models for its 435 plates, engraved by Robert Havell Jr., plus an additional 39 avian watercolors of birds by Audubon. The Final Flight tracks Audubon through the final chapters of gathering the birds that had eluded him, as he also mapped new species and grappled with the latest information from expeditions to
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This is John James Audubon’s gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), study for Havell pl. 366, ca. 1835–36, watercolor, graphite, pastel, black chalk, gouache, and black ink with scratching out and touches of glazing on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.366.
the West. Not wishing to lose subscribers, to declare bankruptcy, or to destroy his health, Audubon accelerated his schedule and became extraordinarily inventive in completing his work. Among the more than 180 species depicted, the exhibition includes now extinct birds such as the Great Auk and endangered species like the California Condor. It ends with the American Dipper, the final Havell plate 435 of “The Birds of America,” which together with Audubon’s first watercolor model of the Wild Turkey for Havell plate 1 (shown in Part I of The Complete Flock) brackets the North American continent from coast to coast. Since Audubon never traveled west of the Missouri River, he depended on the observations and specimens gathered by early explorers of the Western territories, such as Meriwether Lewis (17741809) and William Clark (17701838), as well as the naturalists Thomas Nuttall (1809-1851) and John Kirk Townsend (1786-1859), members of the expedition led by Captain Nathaniel Wyeth (180256) to the Pacific Northwest in 1833-36. Audubon bought a sizeable number of bird skins, specimens and nests from Nuttall in 1836, and then went to Charleston, S.C., to paint many of his watercolors of Western species. He continued this work in London, where he consulted specimens of outlier species in private collections and the London Zoological Society. Curated by Dr. Roberta J.M. Olson, curator of drawings at the New-York Historical Society, the Audubon’s Aviary trilogy allows New-York Historical Society’s visitors the opportunity to view these (Continued on page 2)
This is John James Audubon’s common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), study for Havell pl. 342, ca. 1832–34, watercolor, graphite, pastel, black chalk, and black ink on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.342.
This is John James Audubon’s Northern gannet (Morus bassanus), study for Havell pl. 326, 1833, watercolor, graphite, pastel, black chalk, black ink, collage, and gouache with scratching out and scraping on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.326.
This is John James Audubon’s green heron (Butorides virescens), study for Havell pl. 333, ca. 1821–22, watercolor, graphite, collage, pastel, gouache, and black ink with scratching out and selective glazing on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.333.
This is John James Audubon’s blue-winged teal (Anas discors), study for Havell pl. 313, 1822; 1830s, watercolor, oil, pastel, black ink, and graphite with selective glazing on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.313.
This is John James Audubon’s Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), study for Havell pl. 356, 1820; ca. 1836, watercolor, graphite, pastel, and collage with touches of gouache and black and brown inks, scratching out, and selective glazing on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.356.
This is John James Audubon’s Western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) and scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea), study for Havell pl. 354, 1836–37, watercolor, graphite, and gouache with touches of black ink and selective glazing on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.354.
This is John James Audubon’s American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), study for Havell pl. 311, ca. 1831–32, watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black chalk with touches of black ink, scratching out, and scraping on paper, laid on card, courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, purchased for the society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.311.