Lot 182: Audubon Colored Lithograph of American Wild Cat - 1842

After John James Audubon( American, 1785-1851) by John T. Bowen (American, 1801-ca. 1856), Colored lithograph entitled, "Common American Wild Cat (Plate 1) Lynx Rufus," ca. 1842, published in "The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America," New York 1845-48. A lithograph with hand-coloring on wove paper, framed and matted, depicting a wild cat crawling through its natural environs. The feline as well as his setting come to life with vivid details. John James Audubon was an American painter, ornithologist, and naturalist who created illustrated zoologies that served as both scientific documents and wonderful works of art on paper in the 19th century before photomechanical processes were the primary method of creating book illustrations. Zoological illustration is a specialized genre of art, and while Audubon sought to accurately depict animals like other illustrators, his work stands apart as an exemplar because he was also concerned with aesthetic considerations and created the finest compositions, meeting the demands of both art and science. Audubon is perhaps most famous for his depictions of birds; however, he also depicted mammals like this example. Prior to Audubon's work and that of only a few others including John Gould and Josef Wolf, most ornithological and zoological illustrations were not drawn from life but rather from mounted specimens, showing a bird perching upon a branch for example. Audubon was one of the first to impart motion and instill life in his illustrations. What's more the medium of colored lithography was ideal for capturing the vivid hues of birds' plumage and mammals' fur. This example depicting the Lynx Rufus or Common American Wildcat is a wonderfully dramatic yet scientifically accurate depiction of this species, and as a mammal, much rarer than Audubon's renderings of birds. A wonderful work of art for any fan of illustrated zoologies, especially for all our feline lovers! Size: image measures 26.5" L x 20.75" W (67.3 cm x 52.7 cm); 35" x 29.5" (89 x 75 cm) framed and matted.

"Common American Wild Cat (Plate 1) Lynx Rufus" published in "The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America," New York 1845-48.

Provenance: Ex-private Boulder, Colorado collection

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#115562

Lithograph near choice if not choice. Frame shows minor wear to peripheries.