Plumed partridge. Thick-legged partridge
1827-1838
John James Audubon was the original bird influencer, and this plate from his massive 'Birds of America' project proves it. Instead of stiff, boring profiles, he posed these birds—actually California and Mountain Quails, though he labeled them partridges—in a dramatic little scene: one struts with its fancy topknot, another dives for a snack, and the third watches nervously. To get these lifelike poses, Audubon often used wires to prop up freshly killed specimens before sketching them. The vibrant colors come from hand-painting over copper engravings by his collaborator Robert Havell, making each print a unique piece of art.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving and aquatint
- Material
- Paper
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