George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Known today as the Father of British Ornithology, George Edwards was a draftsman and naturalist who popularized the art of bird and animal illustrations throughout the 18th century. His main collections of etchings, which were bound as the volumes A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and Gleaning of Natural History, together comprise more than 600 animals and were the first works to delineate many of the featured species.
Edwards cultivated an interest in natural history while traveling around Europe, becoming particularly enamored with birds. Upon his return to the United Kingdom, in 1733, Irish physicist Hans Sloane, an acquaintance of British naturalists/illustrators Eleazar Albin and Mark Catesby, offered Edwards a librarian position at the Royal College of Physicians. The job granted him access to a large collection of works on natural history, which he explored enthusiastically.
With instruction from Catesby, Edwards learned etching and spent much of his time preparing plates and drawings for his books. While Edwards hand-colored his early editions, later works were colored in by other artists, like British artist Peter Paillou, allowing Edwards to focus on etching and writing.
George Edwards earned his reputation for both his illustrations and written descriptions of his subjects — widely acclaimed for their accuracy. Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus cited Edwards’s texts when developing his major work, Systema Naturæ. The Royal Society in London awarded Edwards the Copley Medal in 1750 for outstanding achievement in the field of science. Edwards retired in 1763 to Plaistow, England, and died in 1773.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of George Edwards engravings and wall decorations.
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Etching, Watercolor
2010s Neo-Expressionist George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Paint, Paper, Glaze
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Ink, Handmade Paper
1780s Old Masters George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Paper
2010s Modern George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Felt Pen
2010s Contemporary George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Pencil, Archival Paper, Watercolor, Ballpoint Pen
2010s Contemporary George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Mixed Media
1970s Modern George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
20th Century Naturalistic George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Oil, Watercolor
Early 20th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Silk, Watercolor, Washi Paper
2010s American Impressionist George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Glass, Watercolor, Archival Paper, Etching, Wood
2010s Neo-Expressionist George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Paint, Paper, Glaze
Early 18th Century Old Masters George Edwards Figurative Paintings
India Ink, Paper, Gouache
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving
18th Century George Edwards Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving