Baltimore oriole
1827-1838
John James Audubon captured the Baltimore Oriole in all its fiery glory here, perched amidst the large leaves and distinct flowers of a Tulip Tree. Notice the intricate, sock-like nest hanging from the branch—Audubon was obsessed with showing birds in their natural habitats, not just as stiff specimens. To get these dynamic poses, he actually shot the birds and used wires to prop them up into lifelike positions before painting. This plate comes from his massive 'Birds of America' project, a book so huge it was nicknamed the 'Double Elephant Folio'.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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