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John James Audubon (1785-1851)
Details
Snowy Owl
John James Audubon (1785-1851)
AFTER JOHN JAMES AUDUBON (1785-1851)
BY ROBERT HAVELL (1793-1878)
Snowy Owl (Plate CXXI)
Strix nyctea
One of only three night scenes depicted in The Birds of America (the others are the Barn Owl and the American White Pelican), although 'Since Audubon was aware that Snowy Owls typically hunt during the day or early evening, he likely wished the setting in this composition to represent the dusk of a gathering storm rather than a nightscape' (Blaugrund and Stebbins, p.184). Nonetheless, the dramatic background heightens the contrast with the birds' plumage and their stark perch of a dead tree trunk to superb decorative effect.
Hand-coloured engraving with aquatint and etching, on wove paper watermarked 'J Whatman 1831', trimmed unevenly into plate mark, with loss to number at top-left and just touching the lower caption.
Sheet: 37 3/8 x 24 3/4 in. (950 x 629 mm)
John James Audubon (1785-1851)
AFTER JOHN JAMES AUDUBON (1785-1851)
BY ROBERT HAVELL (1793-1878)
Snowy Owl (Plate CXXI)
Strix nyctea
One of only three night scenes depicted in The Birds of America (the others are the Barn Owl and the American White Pelican), although 'Since Audubon was aware that Snowy Owls typically hunt during the day or early evening, he likely wished the setting in this composition to represent the dusk of a gathering storm rather than a nightscape' (Blaugrund and Stebbins, p.184). Nonetheless, the dramatic background heightens the contrast with the birds' plumage and their stark perch of a dead tree trunk to superb decorative effect.
Hand-coloured engraving with aquatint and etching, on wove paper watermarked 'J Whatman 1831', trimmed unevenly into plate mark, with loss to number at top-left and just touching the lower caption.
Sheet: 37 3/8 x 24 3/4 in. (950 x 629 mm)
Brought to you by
Amelia Walker
Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections
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