Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Artist John James Audubon (American, 1785 - 1851)

Lithographer John T. Bowen (American, 1801 - 1856)

Date1840, first published version; 1856, this print published

Mediumlithograph on paper, hand-colored with color printing

DimensionsSheet: 10 3/16 × 6 11/16 inches (25.9 × 17 cm)
Image: 7 1/2 × 5 1/16 inches (19.1 × 12.9 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anonymous Donor, 2018

Object number2018.5.1

ClassificationsPrints

Label TextJohn James Audubon drew this beautiful bird from a specimen he obtained in Camden, New Jersey. He saw it flying over a meadow, in pursuit of insects. He reported that it used its long tail when making sudden turns. Audubon only saw four of these birds in his lifetime. It is a native of Central and South America. This flycatcher is occasionally swept north in hurricanes. The plant is the loblolly-bay. Maria Martin painted the loblolly for Audubon’s book on birds. She was the sister-in-law and, later, wife of John Bachman, who wrote text for Audubon’s book on animals.

ProvenanceMercantile Library Brooklyn, New York. (Parkway Antique Gallery, Austin, Texas). unknown. Gifted 1986 to anonymous donor, Texas [1]; gifted January 12, 2018 to the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art | 1. Donor wishes to remain anonymous.

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