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Smew or White Nun
Smew or White Nun
Smew or White Nun

Smew or White Nun

Artist (American, 1785 - 1851)
Engraver (American, 1793 - 1878)
Date1836
Mediumetching and aquatint on paper, hand-colored
DimensionsDouble elephant: 38 1/4 x 25 1/2 inches (97.2 x 64.8 cm)
Credit LinePartial Bequest of H.J. Lutcher Stark, 1965 and Partial Gift of Nelda C. Stark, 1973
Object number11.1.2.D.88_Smew or White Nun
ClassificationsPages
DescriptionThis page is bound in Volume IV (11.1.2.D).
Label TextThe Stark Museum of Art’s set of "The Birds of America" is unique. This set belonged to the artist. This volume is open to the Smew, a species of duck found in northern Europe and Asia. John James Audubon wrote that it was “extremely rare” in the United States. He described it as a “transient or accidental visitor.” He probably felt compelled to include the Smew in his book to refute Alexander Wilson. Wilson had written that the Smew was frequently observed in New England and New York.
ProvenanceArtist; by inheritance to his son John Woodhouse Audubon [1812-1862]; purchased December 7, 1861 by John Taylor Johnston [1]; by inheritance to his son John Herbert Johnston as of 1893; by inheritance to his grandson William W. Appleton [1915-2014]; as of November 26, 1939 (Harry A. Levinson, The Chaucer Head Book Shop, New York) [2]; purchased 1939 by Cornelius D. Ehret, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; purchased April 29, 1954 through (Nada Kramar, Washington, D.C.) by H.J. Lutcher Stark [1887-1965]; ½ interest bequeathed September 2, 1965 to the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation [3]; remaining ½ interest gifted February 1, 1973 to the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation by Nelda C. Stark [1909-1999]; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art | 1. See letter and bill of sale from John Woodhouse Audubon to John Taylor Johnston (object number 11.2.105.A-C) | 2. The New York Times Book Review, "Notes on Rare Books," November 26, 1939. | 3. Owned jointly by H.J. Lutcher Stark and Nelda C. Stark until his death at which point his ½ interest was bequeathed to the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation.
On View
Not on view
White Merganser Smew, White Nun
John James Audubon
c. 1839
White Ibis
John James Audubon
1834
White-fronted Goose
John James Audubon
1836
Great White Heron
John James Audubon
1835
White Heron
John James Audubon
1837
Snowy Heron or White Egret
John James Audubon
1835
Wilson's Plover
John James Audubon
1838
Sanderling
John James Audubon
1838
Purple Gallinule
John James Audubon
1836
Yellow-breasted Rail
John James Audubon
1836