Cervus Richardsonii

Item Information

Title:
Cervus Richardsonii
Title (alt.):
Cervus Richardsonii
Description:
Celebrated artist John James Audubon (1785-1841) revolutionized natural history. Best known for his contributions to ornithology, Audubon sought another ambitious project in 1839: cataloging mammals. Spanning fifteen years of work, Audubon's resulting three-volume text The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America was published posthumously in 1854. To help complete his magnum opus, Audubon enlisted longtime friend John Bachman, an amateur naturalist, who helped classify new species as well as write and edit text. Audubon's elder son, Victor, painted landscape backgrounds for several of the one hundred fifty plates. His younger son, John Woodhouse Audubon, painted more than half of the plates, eventually replacing his father, as John James was forced to retire due to failing health by 1846. Dozens of others, including numerous financial backers and Bachman's artistically talented sister-in-law Maria Martin, aided the Audubon family and ensured the success of the project. All plates were lithographed by John T. Bowen and published between 1845 and 1848. Celebrated artist John James Audubon (1785-1841) revolutionized natural history. Best known for his contributions to ornithology, Audubon sought another ambitious project in 1839: cataloging mammals. Spanning fifteen years of work, Audubon's resulting three-volume text The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America was published posthumously in 1854. To help complete his magnum opus, Audubon enlisted longtime friend John Bachman, an amateur naturalist, who helped classify new species as well as write and edit text. Audubon's elder son, Victor, painted landscape backgrounds for several of the one hundred fifty plates. His younger son, John Woodhouse Audubon, painted more than half of the plates, eventually replacing his father, as John James was forced to retire due to failing health by 1846. Dozens of others, including numerous financial backers and Bachman's artistically talented sister-in-law Maria Martin, aided the Audubon family and ensured the success of the project. All plates were lithographed by John T. Bowen and published between 1845 and 1848. Cervus Richardsonii depicts two Columbian black-tailed deer. Though the print was attributed to John James Audubon, its 1847 publication suggests that the piece actually derives from an 1846 oil painting by Audubon's son John W. Audubon, who drew the specimen from life. Lithographed by Bowen and printed for Volume III of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, Cervus Richardsonii seeks to maximize scientific precision through its use of color and composition. Majestic antlers appear stark and striking against the pale background in the upper half of the print. Bowen's colorful printing captures the nuances in value that simulate realistic form and texture. Though the deer are the clear focal point, a noteworthy background employs a convincing sense of space through the use of perspective, with detailed grasses that fade to blue hills in the distance.
Artist:
Audubon, John James, 1785-1851
Lithographer:
Bowen, John T., approximately 1801-1856?
Colorist:
Bowen, John T., approximately 1801-1856?
Date:
1847
Format:
Photographs
Genre:
color lithographs
Location:
Northeastern University Library
Collection (local):
The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America
Audubon Prints
Subjects:
Cervus richardsonii
Odocoileus hermionus columbianus
Columbian black-tailed deer
Mule deer
Cervus
Odocoileus
Animals
Link to Item:
http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20129199
Terms of Use:
No Copyright. The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
New York : John J. Audubon
Identifier:
wildlife_audubon_002