Vireo solitario
1827-1838
John James Audubon wasn't just a painter; he was a bit of a mad scientist with a gun. For this plate of the 'Solitary Flycatcher' (now known as the Solitary Vireo), he likely shot the birds and wired them into these lively poses on what the caption calls 'Vidge Cane' branches. This image is Plate 38 from his legendary *Birds of America*, a project so ambitious the original books were nicknamed the 'Double Elephant Folio' because the custom French paper was huge—about three feet tall! The delicate blue-grey heads and striking white eye-rings show off his incredible skill at making stiff specimens look like they're about to fly off the page.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
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