Artist/Maker John James Audubon (1785 – 1851)

Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella), Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus), Least Auklet (Aethia pusilla), Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), Study for Havell pl. 402

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

Mat: 27 x 35 in. (68.6 x 88.9 cm)
Sheet (paper): 16 1/4 × 29 1/8 in. (41.3 × 74 cm)

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

1863.17.402

DescriptionAdults; from left: Crested Auklet; Ancient Murrelet; Marbled Murrelet; Least Auklet; Rhiniceros Auklet.

InscribedInscribed at upper left in graphite: "81 / Size of the / copper --"[with horizontal lines indicating the boundaries of the image for transfer to the engraving plate]; at lower left in brown ink: "Phaleris superciliata, Bonap. / Curled-crested Auk."; at lower left of center: "Mergulus antiquus, Bonap. / 1 Adult 2 Young / Black-throated Guillemot."; at lower right of center: "Phaleris nodirostris, Bonap. / Knobbed-billed Auk."; at lower right: "Ceratorrhina Occidentalis, Bonap. / Horned-billed Guillemot."[each ID followed by a graphite check mark]; birds numbered and identified from middle left in graphite: "Phaleris superciliata, Bonap. / obs. on Cus… Right Animal.--"; at center: "1 / Mergulus antiquus / Bonap. --"; below to right: "Ceratorrhina Occidentalis, Bonap."; at middle right: "Phaleris nodirostris"; birds numbered in brown ink from left to right: "5"; "1"; "2"; "4"; "3"

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