Canvas backed Duck. Fulligula Vallisneria. Steph. 1, 2, Male, 3, Female. View of Baltimore. Plate CCCI.

Audubon & Havell, Jr.

Verlag: Audubon & Havell, Jr., 1836

Beschreibung

Audubon & Havell, Jr. / 1836 / Canvas backed Duck. Fulligula Vallisneria. Steph. 1, 2, Male, 3, Female. View of Baltimore. Plate CCCI. (Oversized 4, 98222) Hand-colored engraving with aquatint on a double elephant folio sheet of wove paper watermarked "J. Whatman 1836". Few invisible mends of short edge tears not coming close to the image. Canvas backed Duck. Fulligula Vallisneria. Steph. 1, 2, Male, 3, Female. View of Baltimore, drawn from nature by John James Audubon and engraved, printed, and colored by Robert Havell Jr. in 1836, is a compelling portrayal of avian elegance set against the historical backdrop of Baltimore. This aquatint showcases three striking canvas-backed ducks in the foreground, with a vivid depiction of Baltimore across the water, offering a harmonious blend of ornithological art and scenic beauty. The canvasback duck (Aythya valisineria) is a North American diving duck distinguished by its unique sloping profile. With a long, tapered bill and a striking red head sitting atop a white back and neck, this duck is easily recognizable and admired by both bird enthusiasts and waterfowl hunters. Primarily inhabiting freshwater lakes, rivers, and marshes, the canvasback's diet consists largely of aquatic plants, particularly wild celery, from which its scientific name is derived. Over the years, factors such as habitat loss and hunting have led to fluctuations in its population, making conservation efforts crucial to ensuring its continued survival. The presence of Baltimore in the background is emblematic of the intricate relationship between the natural world and human civilization. Baltimore, a burgeoning city of the mid-19th century, known for its rich history and vibrant port, serves not only as a geographical point of reference but also as a nod to Audubon's personal experiences. His acknowledgment of Baltimore's hospitality and the city's citizens' generosity during a particularly trying episode of political unrest further deepens the historical significance of the piece. In the Ornithological Biography, Audubon explains his reason for including the view of Baltimore: In the Plate are represented two Males and a Female. In the background is a view of Baltimore, which I have had great pleasure in in- troducing, on account of the hospitality which I have there experien- ced, and the generosity of its inhabitants, who, on the occasion of a quantity of my plates having been destroyed by the mob during an outburst of political feeling, indemnified me for the loss. The male in the lower left of the image reaches out from the bank to snatch a waterbug hiding on a leaf of grass. In the water, another male holds himself with an almost regal poise redolent of fine decoy. A female is shown on the rocks above, bowing her head toward the water. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 98222

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Canvas backed Duck. Fulligula Vallisneria. ...

Verlag: Audubon & Havell, Jr.

Erscheinungsdatum: 1836

Einband: No Binding

Zustand: VG+

Art des Buches: Map