Nuttall's Starling, Yellow-headed Troopial, Bullock's Oriole (composite plate)

Artist John James Audubon (American, 1785 - 1851)

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

Date1838

Mediumetching and aquatint on paper, hand-colored

DimensionsDouble elephant: 40 × 26 7/8 inches (101.6 × 68.3 cm)
Mat: 45 x 29 1/2 inches (114.3 x 74.9 cm)
Other (Plate): 19 11/16 x 12 1/2 inches (50 x 31.8 cm)
Frame: 46 3/4 × 33 3/8 × 1 1/4 inches (118.7 × 84.8 × 3.2 cm)

Credit LinePurchase of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, 2012

Object number2012.2.1

ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionComposite plate

Label TextWhen Audubon completed the 435 prints for "The Birds of America," he wanted to make some improvements. He wanted to correct some errors and misplacements. He asked his printmaker, Havell, to re-print thirteen plates with additions from other plates. The resulting plates are called composite plates (or prints). This composite plate is the reprinted plate CCCLXXXVIII with additions from plate CCCCXXXIII. Audubon wanted to portray examples of the same species in one image. He instructed Havell to transfer a male and female Bullock’s oriole to this print.

ProvenanceCharles H. Contoit; gifted 1883 to New York Society Library, New York, New York. New York Society Library, Deaccessioned March 19, 1980; (Sotheby’s, New York, New York), [1]; Unknown; (Skinner Auctioneer and Appraisers of Antique and Fine Art, Boston, Massachutes) [2]; purchased May 10, 2012 through (J. Gilbert Johnston, Antique Nature Prints, Birmingham, Alabama) by the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art | 1. June 7, 1980. Lot 152 | 2. November 14, 2010. Lot 628

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