Items Similar to Red-breasted Rail: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
John James AudubonRed-breasted Rail: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph 1856
1856
About the Item
This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Great Red-breasted Rail or Fresh Water Marsh Hen, 1. Male Adult, 2. Young", No. 62, Plate 309 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia in 1856. It depicts an adult male Great Red-breasted Rail standing on a mound, looking to the left at water and an adolescent rail looking to the right. A body of water is seen on the left. Foliage augments this beautiful landscape scene.
This original hand-colored Great Red-breasted Rail lithograph is in good condition, other than a spot in the upper margin and tiny spots elsewhere, primarily in the margins. The sheet measures 6.63" high by 10.38" wide. The descriptive text pages 160-164 from Audubon's original 19th century publication are included.
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a naturalist and artist. He was initially unsuccessful financially prior to the publication of his famous work “The Birds of America”, spending time in debtor’s prison, once stabbing a disgruntled investor in self-defense. However, his obsession with birds and art motivated him to persist in his goal of documenting every bird in America via his watercolor paintings and publishing his works for all to enjoy. Audubon's first illustrations were published in a large elephant folio size. Due to their expense they were purchased in rather small numbers by the wealthy. To reach a larger audience, Audubon, with the help of his sons and J. T. Bowen, published a smaller octavo sized lithograph version, which were much more affordable.
With the success of his bird projects, Audubon then turned his attention to four-legged animals. He explored the Missouri River in 1843 sketching the four-legged animals he encountered in their natural setting. His expedition covered some of the same regions recently explored by Lewis and Clark, traveling from present day Alaska to Mexico. Audubon realized that this was an opportunity to document these animals in the still relatively pristine American wilderness, before man encroached on their environment.
Between 1845 and 1848, Audubon and his sons John Woodhouse Audubon and Victor Gifford Audubon produced a set of elephant folio sized lithographs that were primarily engraved and hand colored by J. T. Bowen in Philadelphia. The publication, which included text descriptions of the animals was published 3 years before Audubon died. As with the birds, this was followed by a three-volume set of 155 octavo-sized plates entitled “The Quadrupeds of North America” completed and published by Audubon’s sons, John, Jr. and Victor.
Audubon prints continue to be popular and a wise investment. The double elephant folio set “The Birds of America” have sold at auction for as much as $8.8 million, and individual plates may sell for six figures. The beautiful octavo sized plates are not as expensive, but becoming more sought after, as the folio bird plates become unattainable to all but the very wealthy.
- Creator:John James Audubon (1785-1851, American, French)
- Creation Year:1856
- Dimensions:Height: 6.63 in (16.85 cm)Width: 10.38 in (26.37 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Alamo, CA
- Reference Number:
John James Audubon
John James Audubon (April 26, 1785, Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue (later Haiti) – January 27, 1851 (aged 65) Manhattan, New York, U.S.), born Jean-Jacques Audubon, was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book entitled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon identified 25 new species.
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2011
1stDibs seller since 2019
233 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Alamo, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- American Coot: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "4128 Audubon, Purple Gallinule, Adult Male, Spring Plumage", No. 61, Plate 303 from Audubon's "B...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker: A First Octavo Edition Audubon Hand-colored LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal first octavo edition lithograph entitled "Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 1. 2. Male, 3. Female", No. 5...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Golden Eagle: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Golden Eagle", No. 3, Plate 12 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowe...Category
Late 19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- American Bittern: An Original 1st Ed. Audubon Hand-colored Bird LithographBy John James AudubonLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 19th century 1st octavo edition John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "American Bittern, 1. Male 2. Female", No. 73, Plate 365 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1840-1844. It depicts male and female American Bittern birds standing on the ground, each looking in opposite directions. There is high grass in the background. This original 1st octavo edition hand-colored Audubon American Bittern lithograph is in excellent condition, other than a few tiny spots, which appear most likely inclusions related to the paper manufacture. The sheet measures 6.5" high by 10.25" wide. The original text pages, 94-98, from Audubon's 19th century publication are included with the lithograph. John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a naturalist and artist. He was initially unsuccessful financially prior to the publication of his famous work “The Birds of America”, spending time in debtor’s prison, once stabbing a disgruntled investor in self-defense. However, his obsession with birds and art motivated him to persist in his goal of documenting every bird in America via his watercolor paintings and publishing his works for all to enjoy. Audubon's first illustrations were published in a large elephant folio...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Blue-eyed Cockatoo: A Framed Original 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph by GouldBy John Gould and Henry Constantine RichterLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Cacatua Ophthalimica” (Blue-eyed Cockatoo) by John Gould, from the supplement to his "Birds of Australia", published in London between 1851 and 1869. The print depicts a large blue-eyed cockatoo perched on a branch, with its head turned to the left. The scene is enhanced with leaves and sky and clouds in the background. This striking framed Gould...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Thorn-Bill Hummingbirds: A Framed 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph by GouldBy John Gould and Henry Constantine RichterLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original framed 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled "Ramphomicron vulcani" (Southern Thorn-Bill Hummingbirds) by John Gould, Pl. 186 from his "Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Hummingbirds", published in London in 1853. The print depicts two Southern Thorn-Bill hummingbirds sitting on branches of a flowering plant. This striking framed Gould hand-colored lithograph is presented in a antiqued gold frame, a gold-colored fillet, and a light tan French mat, embellished with a mint-colored broad band. The frame measures 32" high, 25.5" wide and 1.25" thick. The hand-coloring is enhanced by the use of gum-arabic paint...Category
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
You May Also Like
- Terriers No. 2Located in Columbia, MOTerriers No. 2 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Terriers No. 1Located in Columbia, MOTerriers No. 1 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Dalmation & Bull TerrierLocated in Columbia, MODalmation & Bull Terrier 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- DachsundsLocated in Columbia, MODachsunds 1883-84 Chromolithograph 8.5 x 11 inchesCategory
1880s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- New BeginningsBy Joseph RaffaelLocated in San Francisco, CAArtist: Joseph Raffael (American, 1933-2021) Title: New Beginnings Date: 1982 Medium: Color lithograph Sheet size: 33.5 x 31.75 inches Framed Size 38 x ...Category
1980s Naturalistic Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- American Crow 1858 Chromolithograph by J.J. Audubon Plate, Julius Bien EditionBy John James AudubonLocated in Paonia, COAmerican Crow by J.J. Audubon from his Birds of America folio shows an adult male crow in a Black Walnut bush with a nest of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in a branch below the crow. This original chromolithograph plate no. 226 is in good condition with a repairable water mark in the image on the left side as can be seen in the photos. The ” Birds of America” by John James...Category
1850s Naturalistic Animal Prints
MaterialsLithograph
