Engraving

Title:

Wild Turkey

Object Name:

Engraving

Object ID:

1935.002.06

Creator:

Audubon, John James (1785-1851)Artist; Lizars, William H. (1788-1859)Engraver; Havell, Robert, Jr. (1793-1878)Engraver

Date:

1827-1838

Description:

Hand-colored engraving, Wild Turkey, engraved by William H. Lizars (1788-1859), retouched in aquatint by Robert Havell Jr. (1793-1878), after John James Audubon (1785-1851), 1827-1838. Ink and watercolor on paper on paperboard. Hen at center with nine poults at feet. Tall grass in background with mountain at right. Unsigned. Title below image, "Wild Turkey, MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO. Linn Female and Young." Bottom left and right sections of sheet cut off. Top right corner: "PLATE V[ I ]". Top left corner: "No. 11." Unframed.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-39 W-25.75 inches

Provenance:

Margaret Jewell purchased this print in 1907. She also purchased an Audubon print of a male turkey in 1906. She loaned them both, along with six other Audubon prints, in 1935. She converted the two turkey prints to a gift on April 11, 1950, and the other six prints to a gift in 1954. All but this one were later deaccessioned.

Published in London 1827-1838.

Audubon's "Birds of America" was sold by subscription only, and was issued in 87 parts of five plates each month. When completed in June 1838, it contained 435 hand-colored engravings of 1,065 birds of 489 species.

In 1826, plates 1-10 were engraved by William H. Lizars of Edinburgh. It is said that Lizars had a hard time keeping up with the high production demanded by Audubon, and the colorists went on strike. In 1827, he was replaced by London aquatint engraver Robert Havell Jr. after plate 10.

Credit Line:

Gift of Margaret H. Jewell

People:

Audubon, John James (1785-1851), Havell, Robert

Subjects:

Turkeys, Birds