Audubon Havell Aquatint, Bird of Washinton
Audubon, John James (1785-1851).
Bird of Washington, Plate 11.
Aquatint engraving with original hand color.
London: Robert Havell, 1827-1838.
38 1/4” × 25 1/2” sheet, 37” x 49 1/2” framed.
Commonly believed to be a majestic but mis-identified portrait of a juvenile Bald Eagle, it has now been convincingly argued by Scott Maruna in an article entitled “Substantiating Audubon’s Washington Eagle” that the Bird of Washington was indeed a third species of North American eagle, larger than both the Bald and Golden Eagles, that became extinct or confined to very remote regions.
Audubon sighted examples of this large species of sea eagle four times according to his writings, and procured the specimen portrayed himself. Understandably enthusiastic about this rare find and because he was highly patriotic, he decided to celebrate the United States and George Washington by naming this noble, independent bird in his honor.
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Audubon, John James (1785-1851).
Bird of Washington, Plate 11.
Aquatint engraving with original hand color.
London: Robert Havell, 1827-1838.
38 1/4” × 25 1/2” sheet, 37” x 49 1/2” framed.
Commonly believed to be a majestic but mis-identified portrait of a juvenile Bald Eagle, it has now been convincingly argued by Scott Maruna in an article entitled “Substantiating Audubon’s Washington Eagle” that the Bird of Washington was indeed a third species of North American eagle, larger than both the Bald and Golden Eagles, that became extinct or confined to very remote regions.
Audubon sighted examples of this large species of sea eagle four times according to his writings, and procured the specimen portrayed himself. Understandably enthusiastic about this rare find and because he was highly patriotic, he decided to celebrate the United States and George Washington by naming this noble, independent bird in his honor.
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Estimate
Time, Location
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