The great artist and ornithologist John James Audubon died at the age of 65 on this date in 1851. His masterpiece, Birds of America, a gigantic book of detailed paintings published in four volumes from 1827 to 1838, had made him famous.
Birds of America will still occasionally appear in the news. There are only about 120 copies known to exist, and a copy sold at auction two years ago for approximately $11 million.
When Audubon died, newspapers noted his passing. And it's obvious by reading the coverage that his brilliance was already greatly appreciated.
This week in Newspaper Sunday we take a look at news related to John James Audubon.
Note: The links below lead to excerpts of newspaper articles. On the excerpt pages you can click the "persistent link" to view the full page of the newspaper (and explore the Chronicling America site further).
- New York Tribune, January 29, 1851: High praise: "In the branch of science to which he devoted himself, he stands like Franklin and Fulton, towering above all American compeers..."
- New York Tribune, January 30, 1851: A report on the burial of Audubon.
- Sunbury America, February 1, 1851: An obituary reprinted from a New York newspaper: "The lifelike fidelity and beauty of delineation of the Birds of America placed him the first rank as an artist..."
- Gallipolis Journal, February 6, 1851: A brief but glowing article from a New York newspaper was reprinted in Ohio.
- Middlebury People's Press, July 26, 1842: A decade before his death, this article described the scene as hotel guests did not recognize Audubon, who "seemed to have just sprung from the woods."
More: Biography of John James Audubon
Illustration: John James Audubon photographed by Mathew Brady/Library of Congress
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