Artist/Maker
John James Audubon
(1785 – 1851)
Other Artist
John Woodhouse Audubon
(1812 - 1862)
Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus), Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni), Townsend's Bunting (Emberiza townsendii)?, Study for Havell pls. 394 and 400
1821-1837
Watercolor, graphite, black ink, and gouache with touches of pastel on paper, laid on card
Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Sheet (paper): 17 7/16 × 11 3/4 in. (44.3 × 29.8 cm)
Sheet (paper): 17 7/16 × 11 3/4 in. (44.3 × 29.8 cm)
Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
1863.17.400
The bird that Audubon named "Townsend's finch" has never been found again, it may have been a cross between a Dickcissel and a Blue grosbeak.
DescriptionFrom upper to lower: Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), male; Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), male; Black-headed Siskin (Spinus notata), male; Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), female; Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni), male; Townsend's Bunting (Emberiza townsendii), male. The Black-headed Siskin was used for Plate 394 and the remaining birds were reoriented for Plate 400.InscribedInscribed at upper left in graphite: "Emberiza Picta, Swain. / Buff coloured Bunting / Male. -- / 2d quill longest. 1st nearly / equal -- primaries alternated / ...but such on the outer edges / Tail 2 1/4 Inches --"; at the middle left: "Louisiana Tanager / Tanagra ludoviciana. / old Female."; below: illegibly rubbed with fingerprint; at lower left: "Townsend's Finch / Fringilla Townsendii. / Aud."; at lower right: "Linola flavirostris?"; at middle right: "Black-headed Siskin / Fringilla magellanica. Viell[cut] / Male bird -- February -- / 1818. / reversed"; above vertically: "Oregana -- / pallida -- / Lazuli."; at upper right: "Arkansaw Siskin, Male / Fringilla Psaltria, Say."; five birds numbered from lower to upper: "1"; "2 / 2"; "3"; "2"; "5"; at upper right corner: "400"; erased inscriptions throughout
ClassificationsDRAWINGS
Collections
- Audubon's Watercolors for The Birds of America
John James Audubon
1836-37
1863.17.373
John James Audubon
1836-1837
1863.17.393
John James Audubon
Winter 1836
1863.17.353