Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter
Heart Spotted Woodpeckers: A 19th C. Gould Hand-colored Lithograph

1850

About the Item

This is a hand-colored folio sized lithograph entitled "Hemicircus Cordatus" (Heart Spotted Woodpecker) by John Gould from his monograph "The Birds of Asia", published in London in 1850-1883. The print, which was drawn by Gould and J. W. Hart and lithographed by Hullmandel and Walton, depicts two black and pale yellow-colored woodpeckers, one with brown on its breast, perched on a tree limb with sage colored bark and pea green moss. As their name suggests, there are heart-shaped spots on their back feathers. This beautiful Gould hand-colored woodpecker lithograph measures 21" x 14.13". There are punctate spots in the lower margin on the left. It is otherwise in excellent condition. The original text page is included with a round blindstamp in the right lower corner. There are several other unframed Gould woodpecker and other bird lithographs available via our 1stdibs storefront. Two or more of these would make an attractive display grouping. A discount is available for purchase of a set depending on the number. These additional Gould hummingbirds may be viewed by typing Timeless Intaglio in the search field and tapping on the drop down name to be taken to our 1stdibs storefront. Artist: John Gould (1804-1881]) was an English ornithologist and artist. He, like his American contemporary John James Audubon, published a number of books on birds in the mid 19th century, illustrated by hand-colored lithographs. His wife and fellow artist, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists including Edward Lear and Henry Constantine Richter produced lithographs for his various publications. He has been considered the father of bird study in Australia and the Gould League in Australia is named after him. Charles Darwin referenced Gould’s work in his book, "On the Origin of Species" and Gould named a bird after Darwin; "Darwin's finches". Gould began his career in London as a taxidermist, but in 1827 became the first curator and conservator at the museum of the Zoological Society of London. In this position naturalists brought him collections of birds from all over the world. He began creating drawings and eventually hand-colored lithographs with his wife and Edward Lear, which were the basis for his first publications. Darwin brought him specimens from the Galapagos Islands, including 12 species of finches which had never been described. In 1838, Gould and his wife travelled to Australia and their work led to the seven volume publication of “The Birds of Australia”. Gould had a fascination for hummingbirds and collected specimens of 320 varieties before ever seeing a live hummingbird on a trip to the United States in 1857. He eventually published “A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-birds". Other large publications include: "The Birds of Europe"," A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans”, “A Synopsis of the Birds of Australia, and the Adjacent Islands”, “A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America”, “The Birds of Asia”, “The Birds of Great Britain” and "The Birds of New Guinea and the Adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia".
More From This SellerView All
  • American Coot: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
    By John James Audubon
    Located in Alamo, CA
    This 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

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Red-cockaded Woodpecker: A First Octavo Edition Audubon Hand-colored Lithograph
    By John James Audubon
    Located in Alamo, CA
    This 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

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Golden Eagle: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
    By John James Audubon
    Located in Alamo, CA
    This 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

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • American Bittern: An Original 1st Ed. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
    By John James Audubon
    Located in Alamo, CA
    This 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

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Blue-eyed Cockatoo: A Framed Original 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph by Gould
    By John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter
    Located in Alamo, CA
    This 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

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Thorn-Bill Hummingbirds: A Framed 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph by Gould
    By John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter
    Located in Alamo, CA
    This 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

    Materials

    Lithograph

You May Also Like

Recently Viewed

View All