John James Audubon

John James Audubon painted the birds of North America life size, in natural poses, in their habitats. His birds fly, feed, fight and preen, sometimes with several views of one species on a single sheet, and the backgrounds show the plants and landscapes where they live.

He was born in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, grew up in France and moved to America as a young man. He spent years travelling to observe and paint birds. His great book, The Birds of America, was published between 1827 and 1838 with 435 hand coloured engravings made in London by Robert Havell. The New-York Historical Society holds his original watercolours. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

American Flamingo and American White Pelican show his striking designs. Look at how he bends the tall birds to fit the page.