Audubon as Artist
A New Look at the Birds of America
John James Audubon (1785-1851), artist, naturalist and creator of the celebrated The Birds of America, is widely regarded as America's first exceptional watercolourist. This book offers a unique exploration of Audubon's artistic journey, intertwined with the drama of his life, unveiling how he studied both past and contemporary artists to forge entirely innovative, exemplary works of fine art. Roberta J. M. Olson delves into the controversies surrounding this legendary figure, who, for the first time in history, accurately represented all avian species life-size. Beautifully illustrated, Audubon as Artist chronicles how Audubon infused ornithological illustration with a sense of exhilaration, breathing new life into once-conventional formulas and transforming them into awe-inspiring masterpieces.
Roberta J. M. Olson is Curator of Drawings at the New-York Historical Society. Her publications include Cosmos (with Jay M. Pasachoff, Reaktion Books, 2019) and Audubon’s Aviary: The Original Watercolors for The Birds of America (2012).
