When one considers birds in art one must consider ornithologists by the names of #PrideauxJohnSelby (1788-1867) and #JohnGould (1804-1881). A pair of British ornithologists who were and still are renowned for their studies of birds.

Merlin, Female
by PJ Selby
1821

I have only one etching by Selby.  It is of a female merlin perched on a rock.  Selby is one of the best-known British ornithologist/bird illustrator of 19^th century.  He was the first to illustrate birds from Great Britain in life-size and in realistic action.  A wonderful hand-coloured line engraving which was created around 1826.  Selby was a great collector of specimens from which he created his drawings and etchings.  He was a magnificent artist and etcher and his friends consisted of fellow great artists and scientists such as Audobon, Gould, Swainson, Jardine and many others.

To John Gould of which I have four lithographs from his folio sized edition ‘Birds of Great Britain’ printed from 1862 to 1873.  All the plates were hand-coloured after printing.  He produced the plates with the assistance of his wife, Elizabeth, and several other artists including Edward Lear, Henry Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Hart.

Hirundo Rustica
lithograph by Johnn Gould @ 1862

He is considered the founder  of ornithology in Australia. His identification of the birds now nicknamed ‘Darwin’s finches’ played a role in the inception of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Gould’s work is referenced in Darwin’s book, ‘On the Origin of Species’.

Chelidon Urbica
lithograph by John Gould @ 1862

Aegiothus Rufescens
lithograph by John Gould @ 1862

Aegiothus Linaria
lithograph by John Gould @ 1862

Once again Gould was also an expert taxidermist.  Preserving many of his self-collected specimens.  John Gould  “the greatest figure in bird illustration after Audubon”.  A great accolade but in fact truly deserved.  Every sky tinted and every feather of each bird were coloured by hand; nearly two hundred and eighty thousand illustrations in the present work.  An amazing work which possibly may be the most sumptuous and costly of British bird books’