House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Study for Havell pl. no. 83
Title
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Study for Havell pl. no. 83
Date
before 1829
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, gouache, black chalk, and touches of black ink on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 19 3/16 x 11 5/8 in. (48.7 x 29.5 cm)Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Description
Female feeding young, left; adult male, right
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.83
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in brown ink: "No 17. Plate 83."; at lower center: "House Wren. Male 1. F. 2. Young 3.4.5"; below in graphite[erased]: "Troglodytes Aedon[crossed out] aedon / ad / aedon[crossed out] / ...[illegible]"; birds numbered in brown ink counterclockwise from upper center: "1"; "2"; "3"; "4"; "5"
Gallery Label
House wren perched on hat made in PA in 1812; painting completed ca. 1824; 2 colored engravings and copper plate (1946.167) in N-YHS collections; 1812 picture in the collection of the Houghton Library, Harvard University; there is also an oil copy made by Kidd in the PA Academy of Fine Arts
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Study for Havell pl. no. 137
Title
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Study for Havell pl. no. 137
Date
1829
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, black chalk, gouache, white lead pigment, and black ink with selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 29 5/16 x 21 1/16 in. (74.5 x 53.5 cm)Mat: 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)
Description
Males above; female on nest
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.137
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in brown ink: "Yellow-breasted Chat males 1.2.3.4. F.e 5. / Icteria viridis.--- Plant Vulgo- Sweet Briar. / From Nature by John J. Audubon F.L.S. / June 7th Jersey"; below, in graphite[erased]: "...Rosa rubiginosa..."; to right of upper bird: "Not be / engraved"; four male birds each numbered: "1"; female on nest numbered: "2"
Gallery Label
The background flora has been identified as Rose (possibly Rosa virginiana) or Sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa)
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), Study for Havell pl. no. 129
Title
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), Study for Havell pl. no. 129
Date
c. 1824
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black chalk with touches of black ink and gouache, and selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 18 5/8 x 11 1/2 in. (47.3 x 29.2 cm)Mat: 34 x 26 in. (86.4 x 66 cm)
Description
Males
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.129
Marks
Watermark: TURKEY MILLS / JWHATMAN
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in graphite[erased]: "April 17th"; at upper right corner, vertically: "29"
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), Study for Havell pl. no. 121
Title
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), Study for Havell pl. no. 121
Date
1829
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black ink with touches of glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 38 x 25 11/16 in. (96.5 x 65.2 cm)Mat: 53 x 39 in. (134.6 x 99.1 cm)
Description
Male, above; female, below
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.121
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in graphite: "No 25."
Gallery Label
Audubon included these owls in the only nocturnal scene he painted, although ironically, they often hunt by day.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Study for Havell pl. no. 51
Title
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Study for Havell pl. no. 51
Date
1821; reworked later
Medium
Watercolor, pastel, black ink, graphite, and black chalk with touches of gouache and selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 37 3/4 x 25 1/2 in. (95.9 x 64.8 cm)Mat: 53 x 39 in. (134.6 x 99.1 cm)
Description
Male, above; female, below
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.51
Gallery Label
The piece was later reworked.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), Study for Havell pl. no. 66
Title
Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), Study for Havell pl. no. 66
Date
c. 1825-1826
Medium
Watercolor, pastel, black ink, graphite, gouache, and white lead pigment with selective glazing and outlining with a stylus on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 38 1/4 x 25 1/16 in. (97.2 x 63.7 cm) **Before ConservationMat: 53 x 39 in. (134.6 x 99.1 cm)
Description
Male, left; female, right
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.66
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in brown ink: "No 14. Plate 66. / Published / 1829."; to right: "Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Male 1. F.2 & 3. -- / Picus principalis --"; signed below: "Drawn from Nature by John. J. Audubon -- / Louisianna. --"
Gallery Label
MMA has an oil painting of this watercolor
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Title
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Date
1820
Medium
Pastel, watercolor, graphite, black ink, and black chalk with touches of gouache on two sheets of paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 18 11/16 x 18 5/16 in. (47.5 x 46.5 cm)Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Description
Downy young
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.18.22
Gallery Label
The background flora has been identified as
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Study for Havell pl. no. 39
Title
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Study for Havell pl. no. 39
Date
1822
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, gouache, and black ink with touches of black chalk and glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 18 5/8 x 11 11/16 in. (47.3 x 29.7 cm)Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Description
Male above; female below
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.39
Marks
Watermark: TURKEY MILLS / JWHATMAN [reversed]
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in brown ink: "No 8. Plate 39."; at lower center: "Crested Titmouse male 1. F. 2. / Parus bicolor. / Plant Pinus Strobus."; birds numbered upper and lower respectively: "1"; "2"
Gallery Label
The background flora has been identified as White pine (Pinus strobus).
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Study for Havell pl. no. 33
Title
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Study for Havell pl. no. 33
Date
1824
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, gouache, and black ink with touches of pastel and selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 18 9/16 x 11 3/4 in. (47.1 x 29.8 cm)Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Description
Male above; female below
Credit Line
Purchased for New-York Historical by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.33
Inscriptions
Erased inscriptions at lower left; birds numbered upper and lower respectively: "1"; "2"
Gallery Label
The background flora has been identified as Bull thistle (Cirsiun vulgare).
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), Study for Havell pl. no. 26
Title
Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), Study for Havell pl. no. 26
Date
c. 1825
Medium
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, gouache, and black ink with scraping and selective glazing on paper, laid on card
Dimensions
Paper: 29 3/4 x 21 1/4 in. (75.6 x 54 cm)Mat: 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)
Description
Lower center bird immature; others adults
Credit Line
Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
Object Number
1863.17.26
Marks
Watermark at upper left: JWHATMAN / 181[?] [reversed]
Inscriptions
Inscribed at lower left in graphite: "No 6 / Plate 26 ---"; at lower left of center: "Carolina Parrot. Males 1. F. 2. Young 3 / Psitacus carolinensis"; at lower right of center: "Plant Vulgo -- Cockle Burr."; at lower right: "The upper Specimen was shot near Bayou Sarah / and appeared So uncommon having 14 Tail feathers all very / distinct and firmly affixed in 14 diferent receptacles that I / drew it more to exhibit one of those astonishing fits of Nature / than any thing else -- it was a female -- / The Green headed is also a singular although not / uncomon a Variety as the above one -- -- / Louisianna -- December --- J.J. Audubon"; birds identified clockwise from lower center: "female"; "Male"; "Female"; "Female N[?] / 14 Tail feathers"; "Male"; "Male[crossed out]"; below: "Young --"; erased inscriptions thoughout
Gallery Label
The background flora has been identified as Cocklebur (Xanthium sturmarium).
Provenance
Mrs. John J. (Lucy Bakewell) Audubon
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
