Cat Bird. Turdus felivox [current name: Gray Catbird. Dumetella carolinensis], from "The Birds of America," plate CXXVIII
This print from Audubon's The Birds of America represents male and female birds perched on Southern Blackberry. The male appears above, facing left with its beak open and tail raised. The female below is seen from behind facing right, its head twisted up and tail raised. The body feathers of both are gray with black caps and tail feathers, a rusty orange patch under the tail. The blackberry branches support leaves and berries in varying stages of ripeness, both red and black. The artist's related painting was possilbly made in 1822 in Louisiana or Mississippi.
Audubon placed the birds in his prints amongst plants native to their habitats, a significant departure from traditional natural history drawing practice. Also innovative was to often show birds in movement and, when more than one appear, from different points of view to display more of their plumage. Engraved text below gives English vernacular names for the birds followed by Latin, with plants identified in the same way. Full sets of The Birds of America contain 435 life-sized depictions. Over thirteen years, subscribers periodically received sets of five prints (each set containing images of two small, one medium sized and one large bird species). Engraved numbers at upper left and right identify the set number and individual plate number. Double elephant-folio sized sheets of paper were used, no matter the size of the printing plate, to allow the sets to be bound together once complete. Fewer than two hundred full sets were produced. When later divided, previous owners of individual prints often trimmed the margins. This work retains its original margins.
Audubon placed the birds in his prints amongst plants native to their habitats, a significant departure from traditional natural history drawing practice. Also innovative was to often show birds in movement and, when more than one appear, from different points of view to display more of their plumage. Engraved text below gives English vernacular names for the birds followed by Latin, with plants identified in the same way. Full sets of The Birds of America contain 435 life-sized depictions. Over thirteen years, subscribers periodically received sets of five prints (each set containing images of two small, one medium sized and one large bird species). Engraved numbers at upper left and right identify the set number and individual plate number. Double elephant-folio sized sheets of paper were used, no matter the size of the printing plate, to allow the sets to be bound together once complete. Fewer than two hundred full sets were produced. When later divided, previous owners of individual prints often trimmed the margins. This work retains its original margins.
Artwork Details
- Title: Cat Bird. Turdus felivox [current name: Gray Catbird. Dumetella carolinensis], from "The Birds of America," plate CXXVIII
- 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)
- Printer: Robert Havell Jr. (American (born England), Reading 1793–1878 Tarrytown, New York)
- Publisher: John James Audubon (American (born Haiti), Les Cayes (Saint-Domingue) 1785–1851 New York)
- Date: 1827–38
- Medium: Hand-colored etching, aquatint and engraving
- Dimensions: Plate: 19 3/8 × 12 3/16 in. (49.2 × 30.9 cm)
Sheet: 38 5/16 × 25 1/2 in. (97.3 × 64.8 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Michael and Elyn Stubblefield, 2024
- Object Number: 2024.587.4
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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