Since both Audubon Day and International Flamingo Day are celebrated annually on the 26th of April, what better work to spotlight today than John J. Audubon’s famous flamingo print from his magnum opus, The Birds of America…
American Flamingo, 1838: The Birds of America, Plate 431
hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper
image: 87.63 × 58.58 cm (34 1/2 × 23 1/16 in.) plate: 97 x 65 cm (38 3/16 x 25 9/16 in.) sheet: 101.3 x 68.3 cm (39 7/8 x 26 7/8 in.)
National Gallery of Art DC collection (1945.8.431)
On the 7th of May, 1832, while sailing from Indian Key, one of the numerous islets that skirt the south-eastern coast of the Peninsula of Florida, I for the first time saw a flock of Flamingoes. It was on the afternoon of one of those sultry days which, in that portion of the country, exhibit towards evening the most glorious effulgence that can be conceived. The sun, now far advanced toward the horizon, still shone with full splendour, the ocean around glittered in its quiet beauty, and the light fleecy clouds that here and there spotted the heavens, seemed flakes of snow margined with gold. Our bark was propelled almost as if by magic, for scarcely was a ripple raised by her bows as we moved in silence. Far away to seaward we spied a flock of Flamingoes advancing in “Indian line,” with well-spread wings, outstretched necks, and long legs directed backwards. Ah! reader, could you but know the emotions that then agitated my breast! I thought I had now reached the height of all my expectations, for my voyage to the Floridas was undertaken in a great measure for the purpose of studying these lovely birds in their own beautiful islands.
– John James Audubon, from The Birds of America
Of course, he then proceeds to go on at length about his quest to have one of these lovely birds shot down for him…
Click here to read Audubon’s full text entry accompanying his flamingo illustration via the online edition of The Birds of America.
Audubon committed to illustrating every bird in The Birds of America life-size. However, even using the largest paper available (known as “double elephant folio”), he still had to cheat the poses a bit to make the biggest birds fit. For the flamingo, he swooped its neck down in an awkward S-shape.
For perspective, THIS is how big the original plate is:
Bonus book recommendations:
