John J. Audubon

Artist Frederick Cruickshank (1800 - 1868)

Engraver Charles Turner (English, 1774 - 1857)

Publisher Robert Havell Jr. (American, 1793 - 1878)

Date1835

Mediummezzotint on paper

Dimensions14 x 11 inches (35.6 x 27.9 cm)
Frame: 22 × 16 inches (55.9 × 40.6 cm)
Other (Plate mark): 9 × 6 5/8 inches (22.9 × 16.8 cm)

Credit LineBequest of H.J. Lutcher Stark, 1965

Object number31.207.3

ClassificationsPrints

Label TextThis portrait depicts Audubon at an important moment in his career. Audubon was publishing the first prints of The Birds of America. He was working with Robert Havell Jr., who oversaw the printing and coloring of the prints. Havell also published this portrait. He probably used this handsome image of the artist to promote the Birds. The engraving was based on a miniature, painted on ivory, by Frederick Cruickshank, around 1830-1831. The miniature was originally done on ivory, and it was Audubon’s favorite likeness of himself, at about age 46. His printer Robert Havell also used this image to further promote the sale of the Birds of America.

ProvenanceH.J. Lutcher Stark [1887-1965]; bequeathed September 2, 1965 to the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art

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