The Bird

The Bird explores the fascinating world of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century ornithological illustration. This was a period of scientific, artistic and geographic discovery, when people began to fully appreciate the immense variety of form and colour within the natural world. This book celebrates this beauty through the lavish illustrations produced at that time. Within each chapter, there will be an opportunity to learn a little more about the artists that helped to elevate the art form. From John James Audubon to Elizabeth Gould and Edward Lear we learn how technology, travel and ambition shaped their work, and how their work transformed our understanding of the wonderful world of birds.