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.
Set of Twelve 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
$22,500
George Edwards : A Set of Twelve 18th Century Etchings of Hummingbirds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural Hi...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
Set of Twelve 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
$800
H 14.5 in W 19.75 in
Studio 54 - Bananarama - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
A small octopus is inked in the Japanese style of Gyo-Taku print making. Using sumi ink to "print" the octopus, the artist then embellishes it with colored pencil to convey an extra...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
$7,500
H 5 in W 41 in
"The Visit" Cougar at Poolside, Contemporary Surrealist Painting
By Thomas Broadbent
Located in New York, NY
29.5"x41" watercolor on paper. In this contemporary surrealist watercolor painting by Thomas Broadbent, a cougar climbs along a poolside lounger chair. Two glasses of wine and a st...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$5,300
H 12.88 in W 9.63 in
Thistle and Moths, plate no. 6, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium
By Maria Sibylla Merian
Located in Middletown, NY
Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 6; Thistle and Moths. The Netherlands: 1705. Engraving with hand coloring in w...
Watercolor, Engraving
The Reader
By Thomas Broadbent
Located in New York, NY
Signed on reverse, 22"x30" available unframed. Thomas Broadbent has shown extensively throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. Broadbent’s work won the Pulse Prize for best s...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$2,100
H 37 in W 25 in
Congregation - Japanese Style Gyotaku Painting of Koi on Marbled Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
In Japan they are known as Nishikigoi, or living jewels. These brilliantly colored varieties of the Amur carp have been selectively bred by family owned fisheries for generations. Wh...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper
Red fish
Located in Zofingen, AG
The red fish is a symbol of confidence, stable good fortune, and abundance. It represents moving in one’s own rhythm, trusting intuition, and inner stability. The red color emphasize...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$411
H 11.7 in W 8.27 in D 0.04 in
Original-Breakfast with Cat-British Awarded Artist-Goldleaf, ink, gold on paper
Located in London, GB
Shizico Yi is known for her expressive and distinctive artistic style, particularly evident in her mesmerizing ink drawings. She believes that drawing is a direct way to document how...
Gold, Gold Leaf
$420
H 16.54 in W 11.7 in D 0.04 in
Red Horse Abstract Watercolor on Archival Paper, 2010s, Unframed
Located in Zofingen, AG
Red Horse A symbol of aggression — not destructive, but productive. A force that exists within each of us, yet one we do not always allow to be released. It is an energy of movement ...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$617Sale Price|20% Off
H 10 in W 18 in D 1 in
Horse Racing on Tramore Beach in Southern Ireland with Mountains in the Distance
Located in Preston, GB
Horse Racing on Tramore Beach in Southern Ireland with Mountains in the Distance, an Original Watercolour by Irish Artist, Sean Lorinyenko. Art measures 15 x 7 inches Frame measures...
Acrylic, Watercolor, Board
A Standing Leap at a Gate
By James Seymour
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
James Seymour (1702-1752) A Standing Leap at a Gate Mezzotint with hand colouring Image size 10 x 14 in Framed size 16 1/2 x 20 in James Seymour was an English artist renowned for h...
Mezzotint
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 1.19 in
"Blooming Jaguar", watercolor & pencil illustration on watercolor paper
By Oliver Flores
Located in Dallas, TX
"Blooming Jaguar" by Oliver Flores is a whimsical watercolor and charcoal drawing of a beautiful colorful elephant. This artwork comes in a white floater frame, ready to hang. Frame...
Charcoal, Watercolor, Archival Paper
$5,300
H 12.88 in W 9.63 in
Tree with moth, caterpillar..., Plate 39, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium
By Maria Sibylla Merian
Located in Middletown, NY
Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 39; Unidentified tree with moth, caterpillar and pupa. The Netherlands: 1705....
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Engraving, Watercolor
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving