Bird of Washington or Great American Sea Eagle. Falco Washingtoniensis [current name: Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus], printing plate for "The Birds of America," 1827–38, plate XI
Audubon believed that the bird represented here was a new species of sea eagle, but today it is identified as a juvenile male bald eagle. The artist made the related drawing (New York Historical Society) in New Orleans in 1822.
This etched, aquatinted and engraved copper plate was one of 435 used to print "The Birds of America." The Edinburgh printing shop of William Home Lizars began work on the first group of ten in the fall of 1826 until labor issues forced Audubon to change course. In 1827, he employed the London engraver and printer Robert Havell, Sr. to take over, soon joined by his son Robert Havell, Jr. The latter was an expert etcher and aquatint engraver who then managed the project after his father's retirement in 1828 through 1838, when the final group of prints were published. The following year Audubon shipped the plates across the Atlantic and stored them in a New York City warehouse. By 1852 they had been moved to a vault on the artist's Upper Manhattan property. After his death they were owned by a mining and metal business, Phelps, Dodge & Co., whose president William E. Dodge gave six to the Met in 1876. Nickel-plated to preserve the surface, with brass paint added to make the lines readable, the group was displayed in a gallery off the entrance hall at the museum's early home at 128 West 14th Street.
This etched, aquatinted and engraved copper plate was one of 435 used to print "The Birds of America." The Edinburgh printing shop of William Home Lizars began work on the first group of ten in the fall of 1826 until labor issues forced Audubon to change course. In 1827, he employed the London engraver and printer Robert Havell, Sr. to take over, soon joined by his son Robert Havell, Jr. The latter was an expert etcher and aquatint engraver who then managed the project after his father's retirement in 1828 through 1838, when the final group of prints were published. The following year Audubon shipped the plates across the Atlantic and stored them in a New York City warehouse. By 1852 they had been moved to a vault on the artist's Upper Manhattan property. After his death they were owned by a mining and metal business, Phelps, Dodge & Co., whose president William E. Dodge gave six to the Met in 1876. Nickel-plated to preserve the surface, with brass paint added to make the lines readable, the group was displayed in a gallery off the entrance hall at the museum's early home at 128 West 14th Street.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bird of Washington or Great American Sea Eagle. Falco Washingtoniensis [current name: Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus], printing plate for "The Birds of America," 1827–38, plate XI
- Series/Portfolio: Birds of America, plate XI
- Artist: After John James Audubon (American (born Haiti), Les Cayes (Saint-Domingue) 1785–1851 New York)
- Etcher: Etched and aquatinted by Robert Havell Jr. (American (born England), Reading 1793–1878 Tarrytown, New York)
- Date: 1827
- Medium: Printing plate: engraving, etching and aquatint on copper, nickel plated and filled with brass paint; second variant of engraved text
- Dimensions: plate: 39 x 26 in. (99.1 x 66 cm)
- Classification: Plates
- Credit Line: Gift of William E. Dodge Jr., 1876
- Object Number: 76.1.2
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
John James Audubon
1829
John James Audubon
1830
John James Audubon
1830
Multiple artists/makers
1851
Multiple artists/makers
1854
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.