New-York Historical Society

Collections:

Classification:

Is owned by NYHS:

Yes

Highlight:

Not promoted

Date:

1822

Medium:

Watercolor, oil, pastel, black ink, and graphite with selective glazing on paper, laid on card

Dimensions:

Paper: 19 15/16 x 28 15/16 in. (50.6 x 73.5 cm) Mat: 31 x 41 in. (78.7 x 104.1 cm)

Description:

Male, below left; female, above right

Credit Line:

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

Object Number:

1863.17.313

Inscriptions:

Inscribed at upper left vertically in graphite: "Weight of the male 3/4 of a Pound / Total Length -- 16 Inches Legs equal / Breadth -- 24 3/4 do / Tail feathers 16 in number"; at lower left in brown ink: "Drawn by John J Audubon / from Nature -- New Orleans Feby -- 1822"; at lower left of center: "Weight of Male 12 ounces / Total length -- 16 in. / Breadth 24 3/4 " / 16 Tail feathers Legs equal --"; at lower center: "Blue Winged Teal / Anas Discors"; at lower right: "Weight of Female 11 ounces / Length 15 In. / Breadth 23 1/2 "-- "; at middle right in graphite[erased and cut]: "Weight of female / Length -- / Breadth--"; at upper right[erased]: "Weight of Female 11. ozes / …Inches -- 15. -- / --23…"

Gallery Label:

In Havell's engraving, the birds are flying high over the land

Date Begin:

0

Date End:

1822

eMuseum Object ID:

27572

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Havell plate no. 311

Exhibitions:

Collections:

Classification:

Is owned by NYHS:

Yes

Highlight:

Not promoted

Date:

ca. 1831-32

Medium:

Watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black chalk with touches of black ink, scratching out, and scraping on paper, laid on card

Dimensions:

Paper: 37 x 25 1/16 in. (94 x 63.7 cm) Mat: 53 x 39 in. (134.6 x 99.1 cm)

Description:

Adult, summer plumage

Credit Line:

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

Object Number:

1863.17.311

Marks:

Watermark: JWHATMAN / 183[?]

Gallery Label:

Prelimary drawing with background and possibly bird done by Lehman; horizontal format; head facing outward, not profile (1863.18.36)

Date Begin:

0

Date End:

1832

eMuseum Object ID:

27571

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), Havell plate no. 307; sketch of a second bird

Exhibitions:

Collections:

Classification:

Is owned by NYHS:

Yes

Highlight:

Not promoted

Date:

ca. 1832

Medium:

Watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black ink with touches of gouache, scratching out, and selective glazing on paper, laid on card

Dimensions:

Paper: 20 3/8 x 28 15/16 in. (51.8 x 73.5 cm) Mat: 31 x 41 in. (78.7 x 104.1 cm)

Description:

Adult, breeding plumage

Credit Line:

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

Object Number:

1863.17.307

Marks:

Watermark: JWHATMAN / 1830 [reversed]

Inscriptions:

Inscribed at upper right in graphite[cut]: "…with…crooked... / you will cut out and place near or on the outline / made on this try to Shew a portion or the whol[cut] / of one leg and foot. --"[indicating outline of second stationary bird in profile at upper right]; birds numbered left and right respectively: "1"; "2"

Gallery Label:

Another version of an unpublished drawing Little Blue Heron (1863.18.39); For the plate version, Havell included a heron in the white plumage of the young standing in the left background

Date Begin:

0

Date End:

1832

eMuseum Object ID:

27568

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber), Havell plate no. 397

Exhibitions:

Collections:

Classification:

Is owned by NYHS:

Yes

Highlight:

Not promoted

Date:

c. 1837

Medium:

Watercolor, graphite, gouache, and pastel with touches of black ink and selective glazing on paper, laid on card

Dimensions:

Paper: 21 1/4 x 29 5/16 in. (54 x 74.5 cm) Mat: 31 x 41 in. (78.7 x 104.1 cm)

Description:

Adult, left; immature, right

Credit Line:

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

Object Number:

1863.17.397

Marks:

Watermark: JWHATMAN

Inscriptions:

Inscribed at lower left in graphite: "30 1/2 Inches / by 22 Inches."; below: "No 80 --- Plate 397. / J.J.A"; at lower left of center: "Ibis rubra, Vieill. / 1. Adult male. 2 Young Second Spring plumage."; at middle right[partially erased]: "The…because / in… an indication / That Nature… although to / …is yet obliged / to …pleting of her / … It also appears to me / that…of colouring is …er / …facts / …of the birds-- / … The stomach / …near head, that / ...and then / … / ..."

Gallery Label:

This bird is rarely seen in the U.S. today, and Audubon said he never observed them closely in life. This picture is based on specimens obtained outside the U.S.

Date Begin:

0

Date End:

1837

eMuseum Object ID:

27538

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), Havell plate no. 379

Exhibitions:

Collections:

Classification:

Is owned by NYHS:

Yes

Highlight:

Not promoted

Date:

1836-37

Medium:

Watercolor, graphite, black ink, and gouache with touches of pastel and selective glazing on paper, laid on card

Dimensions:

Paper: 21 1/8 x 15 15/16 in. (53.7 x 40.5 cm) Mat: 35 x 27 in. (88.9 x 68.6 cm)

Description:

Males, above; females, below

Credit Line:

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

Object Number:

1863.17.379

Inscriptions:

Inscribed at lower left in graphite: "Ruff-necked Humming-bird / Trochilus rufus. Latham / No 77 / Plate 374"; at lower center: "Ruffed / Nootka Sound[crossed out] Humming Bird -- 1. 2. Males 3 F. & nest. -- / Trochilus rufus -- / Mr Havell will please to place the lower portion of the nest at point a marked abo[ve, cut] / and take off the leaf now there -- this will make the plate less, and for a bet[ter, cut] / calm position. / Victor must look in Swainson & Richardson's Fauna borealis -- for the name both English & Latin given to this bird, and / having it engraved -- I have to…ascertain[?] it. --"; at lower left of center below nest: "a"; at lower right in brown ink: "Plant / Cleome heptap[cut]"

Gallery Label:

The background flora has been identified as Spider flower (Cleome houtteana); Nest painted by Maria Martin

Date Begin:

0

Date End:

1837

eMuseum Object ID:

27452

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), Havell plate no. 431

Exhibitions:

Collections:

Classification:

Is owned by NYHS:

Yes

Highlight:

Not promoted

Date:

1838

Medium:

Watercolor, graphite, gouache, black ink, and pastel with glazes on paper, laid on card

Dimensions:

Paper: 33 1/4 x 24 3/16 in. (84.5 x 61.4 cm)Mat: 41 x 31 in. (104.1 x 78.7 cm)

Description:

Adult male

Credit Line:

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

Object Number:

1863.17.431

Marks:

Watermark: JWHATMAN / 183[?]

Gallery Label:

Audubon first saw a flamingo in 1832 but was unable to procure a flamingo specimen until 1838 from Cuba

Date End:

1838

eMuseum Object ID:

27430

Exclude from TMS update:

OFF

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.

Great Egret (Ardea alba), Havell plate no. 386

Exhibitions:

Collections:

Classification: