Hey there! Let’s dive into the fascinating life of John James Audubon, one of America’s most famous naturalists and artists. Born in 1785 in what is now Haiti, Audubon was the son of a naval officer. At 18, he moved from France to New York, dreaming of adventure and success in America. Although he claimed to have studied with top French artists and even said he was a lost French prince, his early years in America weren’t as glamorous as he hoped.
Audubon faced tough times, including bankruptcy and even a stint in jail due to failed business ventures. But these challenges led him to a new path: painting every bird and animal in America. He wanted to become a renowned American artist, and at nearly 35, he embarked on what he called his “Great Idea.” Today, he’s also remembered as a conservationist, even though his methods were quite different from what we consider conservation today.
Audubon studied nature in a dramatic way. He would shoot birds and animals to study them, which might seem odd for someone who cared about nature. However, his work helped people appreciate the natural world more. He didn’t enjoy killing the animals; he wrote that once a bird was dead, the joy of having it faded quickly.
Audubon dreamed of illustrating every bird in the United States, showing each one to scale. His most famous work, “The Birds of America,” was a huge success. He used a special technique to recreate the birds’ behaviors, even though he worked from their lifeless bodies. He used large sheets of paper to fit even the biggest birds, like the golden eagle, which has a wingspan of up to 2.3 meters (7 feet, 8 inches).
Some of Audubon’s bird illustrations look a bit strange because he had to fit them onto the paper, like the flamingo with its oddly bent neck. To fund this massive project, Audubon had to seek help outside the United States. After criticizing a respected field guide, he had few friends left in America. So, he traveled to Scotland and England, hoping they would appreciate his work. In his journal from 1826, he wrote about his journey to Europe and his plans to publish “The Birds of America.”
With support from donors, Audubon returned to the U.S. to start his project. To make it profitable, the prints were sold in unbound groups, allowing people to buy a few at a time. The prints were made by etching his drawings onto plates, with backgrounds painted by hand by a team of artists. This process was both labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Subscribers had to bind the prints into books themselves, resulting in unique copies. Today, only 120 complete bound sets of “The Birds of America” exist. At The Field Museum, we have a special set on display. Every Tuesday morning, librarians carefully turn a page, and it will take over eight years to show all the illustrations, with each page displayed only once before repeating.
Thanks to John James Audubon, his legacy continues to inspire and educate people about the beauty of nature. His work remains celebrated both in history and in our hearts.
Imagine you are John James Audubon. Choose a bird native to your area and create a detailed illustration of it. Use colored pencils or watercolors to bring your bird to life. Pay attention to details like feathers and colors, and try to capture the bird’s natural behavior. Share your artwork with the class and explain why you chose that particular bird.
Pick a bird species from “The Birds of America” and research its habitat, diet, and behavior. Prepare a short presentation for the class, including interesting facts and why Audubon might have been interested in this bird. Use visuals like images or a short video clip to make your presentation engaging.
In groups, map out John James Audubon’s journey from France to America and then to Europe. Use a large map to trace his travels and mark significant events in his life. Discuss how these travels influenced his work and legacy. Present your map and findings to the class.
Hold a class debate on the topic: “Was John James Audubon a true conservationist?” Divide the class into two groups, one supporting the idea and the other opposing it. Use evidence from his life and work to support your arguments. After the debate, discuss how conservation methods have evolved since Audubon’s time.
Organize a bird-watching trip to a local park or nature reserve. Before the trip, learn about the birds you might encounter and how to identify them. During the trip, take notes or sketch the birds you see. Back in class, compare your observations with Audubon’s illustrations and discuss any differences or similarities.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Oh! Hello there. John James Audubon is arguably America’s most famous naturalist. He was born in 1785 as the son of a naval officer in present-day Haiti. At 18, he moved to New York from France, where he had spent his childhood dreaming of American fame, fortune, and adventure. However, Audubon spent the first 16 years in America not as a famous naturalist painter, although he claimed to have studied under the greatest French artists. He also claimed to be the long-lost Prince of France, which contributed to his reputation for telling tall tales.
Audubon faced a harsh reality after experiencing bankruptcy and imprisonment due to failed business ventures. He eventually decided to dedicate himself to painting every bird and animal in America. He aspired to become a great American artist, but it wasn’t until he was nearly 35 that he undertook what he later referred to as his “Great Idea.” Over a century after his death, he is also recognized as a conservationist, although his methods at the time would be considered unconventional today.
Audubon studied the natural world through dramatic means. It is well-known that he shot birds and animals for his studies, which might seem counterintuitive to conservation, but his work ultimately raised public awareness and appreciation for the natural world. Despite this, Audubon did not take pleasure in taking the lives of the animals he documented. He wrote, “The moment a bird was dead, however beautiful it had been when in life, the pleasure arising from the possession of it became blunted.”
He envisioned illustrating every known bird in the United States, replicating each species to scale. “The Birds of America,” as it came to be known, was Audubon’s most significant undertaking and his greatest success. He illustrated the birds from their lifeless bodies, using a technique he developed to recreate their behaviors while studying them in life. He worked on large sheets of paper to accommodate even the largest North American birds, like the golden eagle, whose wingspan can reach up to 2.3 meters (7 feet, 8 inches).
Some of the birds in his illustrations appear unusual because they didn’t quite fit on the canvas, resulting in unrealistic poses. For example, the flamingo has its neck bent at an odd angle. The final design was achieved by laying the physical specimen on the paper and adjusting it to fit within the margins.
This ambitious project required significant initial funding, and unfortunately for Audubon, he had to seek help from outside the United States. He had few friends left in America after he criticized Alexander Wilson’s respected field guide, “American Ornithology.” So, he traveled to Scotland and England, hoping that the Old World would appreciate his New World vigor and self-educated approach to the natural sciences. In his journal from 1826, now preserved in The Field Museum’s library archives, he wrote about his voyage to Europe, expressing his longing for America and his intentions to publish his work on “The Birds of America.”
After securing some charitable donors to support the production of “The Birds of America,” Audubon returned to the United States to begin the project. To make the series profitable, it was released to subscribers in unbound groups of prints, allowing individuals to purchase just a few at a time. The prints were created by etching his renderings onto plates, with backgrounds meticulously painted by hand by a team of artists. This process was labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Ultimately, it was up to the subscribers to bind the prints into books themselves, resulting in a wide variation of color and design. No two copies of “The Birds of America” are exactly alike. Today, only 120 complete bound sets exist, and we have a unique set on display in our library archives at The Field Museum. Every Tuesday morning, a team of librarians carefully turns a page, and it will take more than eight years to reveal all the illustrations, with each page being shown only once before repeating.
Thank you, John James Audubon, for ensuring that your legacy will be celebrated for years to come, both in history and in our hearts.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content.
Audubon – A reference to John James Audubon, a famous naturalist and painter known for his studies and illustrations of American birds. – John James Audubon is celebrated for his detailed paintings of birds in their natural habitats.
Birds – Warm-blooded, egg-laying, feathered vertebrates with wings, many of which are adapted for flight. – The study of birds, known as ornithology, helps scientists understand more about these fascinating creatures and their role in ecosystems.
America – A continent in the Western Hemisphere, consisting of North America and South America, known for its diverse cultures and history. – The discovery of America by European explorers led to significant changes in world history and the exchange of cultures.
Nature – The physical world and everything in it, such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc., that is not made by people. – Many artists and scientists draw inspiration from the beauty and complexity of nature.
Artist – A person who creates art, such as paintings, drawings, or sculptures, often reflecting their interpretation of the world. – John James Audubon was not only a naturalist but also a talented artist who captured the beauty of birds through his illustrations.
Conservationist – A person who advocates for the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife. – Conservationists work tirelessly to protect endangered species and their habitats from threats like deforestation and pollution.
Illustrations – Pictures or drawings that explain or decorate a text, often used to help convey information visually. – Audubon’s illustrations of birds are renowned for their accuracy and artistic beauty.
Legacy – Something handed down from the past, such as traditions, achievements, or property. – The legacy of John James Audubon lives on through his contributions to ornithology and art.
Adventure – An unusual and exciting experience or activity, often involving exploration or travel. – Audubon’s adventures in the American wilderness allowed him to observe and document many bird species.
Challenges – Difficult situations or obstacles that require effort and determination to overcome. – Despite the challenges he faced, Audubon persevered in his quest to document the birds of America.
