Experience John James Audubon’s spectacular watercolor models for the 435 plates of The Birds of America (1827–38) with their corresponding plates from the double-elephant-folio series, engraved by Robert Havell Jr.
Experience John James Audubon’s spectacular watercolor models for the 435 plates of The Birds of America (1827–38) with their corresponding plates from the double-elephant-folio series, engraved by Robert Havell Jr.
2nd floor, Audubon Birds of America: Krystyna Doerfler Focus Gallery
Did you know that the New-York Historical Society houses the world's largest collection of Auduboniana? One of the great American artist-naturalists, John James Audubon (1785–1851) was the legendary rara avis who created the landmark Birds of America (1827–38). Experience highlights from Audubon’s spectacular watercolor models for the 435 plates of The Birds of America with their corresponding plates from the double-elephant-folio series, engraved by Robert Havell Jr. This intimate gallery—the only place in the world where one can see the artist's watercolor model, the Havell plate, and reduced octavo-edition exhibited together—features a bimonthly rotation that highlights a single species at a time. Each rotation also includes other watercolors and Auduboniana to showcase the artist’s creative process and his contributions to ornithological illustration. Curated by Roberta J.M. Olson, curator of drawings emerita.
Note: Due to the watercolor medium and its paper support, these light-sensitive works can only be displayed for short periods of time under low light levels. The gallery allows New-York Historical to share these national treasures with the public while preserving them for future generations.
Spotlighted Species: Yellow Warbler
(through Sunday, October 2)
During the infancy of American ornithology Audubon had difficulty with confusing yellow warblers, believing that those in plates 35, 65, and 95 of The Birds of America were different species. Even with today’s advanced ornithological tools and photography, females and immature birds can be difficult to identify. The Yellow Warbler is one of America’s most widely distributed warblers, nesting from the Arctic Circle to Mexico. The National Audubon Society reports that because it favors second growth forests, it is not as vulnerable to loss of habitat as some of the other warblers. Current populations are probably stable. Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes that nests of the species are frequently parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird. Luckily the Yellow Warbler is intelligent and often builds a new nest directly on top of the parasitized one with a new clutch of eggs, sometimes resulting in nests with up to six tiers! Males sing their bright, whistled call—which sounds like sweet sweet I’m so sweet—from willows, wet thickets, roads, and woodland edges.
Highlights
Shop the Audubon Collection
Browse the NYHistory Store for a vast collection of Audubon-themed gifts including books, apparel, prints, and more.
Exhibitions at New-York Historical are made possible by Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang, the Saunders Trust for American History, the Evelyn & Seymour Neuman Fund, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. WNET is the media sponsor.
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