About the E-Gallery
(History of the E-Gallery)
I am a Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and have been a faculty member at its renowned Medical Center for nearly four decades, doing NIH-funded biomedical research on diseases of significance in human health and developing novel methods for structure-based drug discovery. About 30 years ago, I had discovered, purely by serendipity, the saga of the eminent American naturalist and a restless genius, the great John James Audubon, and the awe inspiring story behind the creation of his monumental masterpiece, "The Birds of America" (BOA), consisting of original hand-colored copperplate engravings with aquatint and etching. What a fortunate discovery it was for me! I purchased a few original Havell Edition Birds, a few Imperial Folio Quadrupeds, and Octavo Edition Bird and Quadruped prints from some well known dealers. I visited the New-York Historical Society to admire the original watercolor paintings by Audubon, and toured the Oakley Plantation House in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and the Audubon Museum and the historic town area in Henderson, Kentucky, where Audubon's lumber mill and his log cabin house used to be. I was also a long-time member of the now defunct Yahoo Group devoted to Audubon Prints, and contributed to the group discussions. Each time I had a stressful day at work, I would come home, and immerse myself and drift away into the beautiful world of Audubon art, and simply marvel at the beauty of the images he painted, and recover. These images of birds and quadrupeds often depicted the unspoiled American wilderness present in early 19th century. Some of the bird images even included in the background charming early 19th century views of historic towns like Charleston, Baltimore, and St. Augustine, and rice plantations. I would also contemplate on the immense hardships that Audubon had to bravely endure and overcome in early 19th century trying to produce his monumental masterpieces against all prejudices and hurdles thrown his way. He was an inspiration!
My above fascination with the original art of John James Audubon led to the launching of this online art gallery to showcase highly collectible original engravings, chromolithographs, and stone lithographs depicting the birds and quadrupeds painted by Audubon. The art works available in this gallery include the original 19'th century prints from the five different editions published by John James Audubon and his family - - viz., the Birds of America from the Havell edition (copperplate engravings), Bien edition (chromolithographs), and the Octavo editions of the birds (stone lithographs), as well as the Quadrupeds of North America stone lithographs from the Imperial Folio edition and its Octavo editions. Some 20'th century restrikes and fine facsimiles of the Havell edition birds are also available. In addition, the gallery features original art from the 18'th and 19'th centuries such as works by John Gould, Mark Catesby, Alexander Wilson, McKenney & Hall, Currier & Ives, and a few engravings of Raphael Sanzio’s murals in the Vatican.
N. Rama Krishna, Ph.D.
https://www.linkedin.com/
Member, American Historical Print Collectors Society
My above fascination with the original art of John James Audubon led to the launching of this online art gallery to showcase highly collectible original engravings, chromolithographs, and stone lithographs depicting the birds and quadrupeds painted by Audubon. The art works available in this gallery include the original 19'th century prints from the five different editions published by John James Audubon and his family - - viz., the Birds of America from the Havell edition (copperplate engravings), Bien edition (chromolithographs), and the Octavo editions of the birds (stone lithographs), as well as the Quadrupeds of North America stone lithographs from the Imperial Folio edition and its Octavo editions. Some 20'th century restrikes and fine facsimiles of the Havell edition birds are also available. In addition, the gallery features original art from the 18'th and 19'th centuries such as works by John Gould, Mark Catesby, Alexander Wilson, McKenney & Hall, Currier & Ives, and a few engravings of Raphael Sanzio’s murals in the Vatican.
N. Rama Krishna, Ph.D.
https://www.linkedin.com/
Member, American Historical Print Collectors Society
