John Gould (Orange Legged Hobby) Erythopus Vespertinus

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Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 9, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-03-09 10:00:00 2023-03-09 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-12354
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• Lot Description
  **First Time At Auction**
  
  John Gould (British, 1804-1881). "Erythopus Vespertinus" - an original antique hand-colored lithograph of the Orange Legged Hobby - Plate 20 from Volume I of the 1st edition of John Gould's "Birds of Great Britain" published 1862-1873. Generally regarded as Gould's masterpiece, "Birds of Great Britain" represents the culmination of Gould's lifelong work in the natural world as well as his immense experience in avian art. According to R. Bowdler Sharpe, "Such beautiful illustrations as those of the Birds of Great Britain scarcely existed before and are not likely to be surpassed." Indeed "Erythopus Vespertinus" demonstrates impressive draftmanship and superb hand coloring. In addition, the original descriptive text for this plate - printed on creamy white paper with gilded edges - accompanies this piece. A mesmerizing example of Gould's work, mounted in an exceptional frame that was artistically designed with carefully selected, museum-quality materials. Size (sight view): 19.75" L x 12.7" W (50.2 cm x 32.3 cm) Size (frame): 35" L x 27.75" W (88.9 cm x 70.5 cm)
  
  Please note, all of Gould's illustrations were meticulously hand colored like this example. In the preface of "The Birds of Great Britain" Gould states, "Many of the public are quite unaware how the colouring of these large plates is accomplished; and not a few believe that they are produced by some mechanical process or by chromo-lithography. This, however, is not the case; every sky with its varied tints and every feather of each bird were coloured by hand; and when it is considered that nearly two hundred and eighty thousand illustrations in the present work have been so treated, it will most likely cause some astonishment to those who give the subject a thought".
  
  John Gould was an ornithologist, a self-taught artist, as well as a naturalist. From 1818 to 1824, Gould was a gardener working under his father in the Royal Gardens of Windsor, where he began creating illustrations. In time, he became an accomplished taxidermist, opening his own practice in London in 1824. In 1827, Gould became the first Curator and Preserver at the museum of the Zoological Society of London. His interest in birds kept developing, and in 1830 he published "A Century of Birds From the Himalaya Mountains" - his first volume on birds. For the next fifty years, Gould, his wife Elizabeth, and several other artist collaborators sojourned throughout the world to depict and describe hundreds of avian species in their natural environs. During his lifetime, Gould was respected as a leading ornithological authority. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1843. The finest ornithological artists of the day worked for and also collaborated with Gould. These included Edward Lear, W. M. Hart, Joseph Wolf, and H. C. Richter.
  
  Printed at lower center: EROTHROPUS VESPERTINUS
  
  Printed at lower left: J. Gould & H. C. Richter, del et lith
  
  Printed at lower right: Walter Imp.
  
  Provenance: private Colorado Collection; Private Collection of a Private Colorado Family
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #176980

  Condition

  Artwork is mounted in a custom, museum-quality frame behind glass. While not examined outside the framing, the artwork appears to be outstanding with vivid imagery and hand coloring. Framing is of an impressive design and made with carefully selected, museum quality molding and materials. Frame is in overall excellent condition, fit with suspension wire, and ready to display.
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