Exhibition explores printmaker who brought Audubon's vision to life

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, March 29, 2024


Exhibition explores printmaker who brought Audubon's vision to life
Carolina Parrot from The Birds of America (detail), 1827–1838, drawn from nature by. John James Audubon (American, 1785–1851), engraved, printed, and colored by R. Havell & Son, London.



MADISON, WIS.- Before John James Audubon’s The Birds of America became one of the world’s preeminent records of natural history, there was the matter of printing this incredible ornithological study. The lengthy and laborious process—which took more than a decade—was taken on by Robert Havell, Jr., an engraver and printer in London.

This early 19th-century collaboration is the subject of the exhibition Seeing Audubon: Robert Havell, Jr. and The Birds of America, which examines Havell’s incredible printmaking techniques and uncovers the dynamic, but underappreciated, collective effort to expand Audubon’s reach through the creation of crisp, beautiful copies of his illustrations. The exhibition is at the University of Wisconsin’s Chazen Museum of Art from Dec. 20, 2021 to April 3, 2022 in the Leslie and Johanna Garfield Galleries.

“For fans of Audubon, this is an incredible opportunity to peek behind the curtain at a partnership between artist and printmaker that created a legendary work,” said Amy Gilman, director of the Chazen. “It often takes many people to execute a creative vision, but art history can obscure these collective efforts in the focus on the artist alone. We’re interested in taking time to pay homage to process, and to gain a deeper understanding of the master printer, Robert Havell, Jr., who painstakingly brought these watercolors to life.”

The exhibition is one of two celebrating printmaking in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the annual Southern Graphics Conference International (SGCI), which will take place in Madison, Wisconsin, March 16-19, 2022. In addition to Seeing Audubon: Robert Havell, Jr. and The Birds of America, the Chazen will also present Pressing Innovation: Printing Fine Art in the Upper Midwest, from Feb. 14 to May 15, 2022.

This presentation of The Birds of America challenges the perception of Audubon as a singular force apart from the history and culture of printmaking. Rather, the exhibition suggests that Havell’s mastery of technique imparted some of the scientific acumen that underlies the images. He engraved and printed the four volumes between 1827 and 1838 in a detailed process that involved tracing and etching more than 400 mixed-media watercolors into copper plates. In doing so Havell transformed the original watercolor studies Audubon made during his travels documenting birds throughout the eastern United States, resulting in one of the finest works of colored engraving with aquatint in existence.

“Havell came from a line of printmakers—in fact, when Audubon approached the family about the project, Havell’s father knew it was too enormous to do without the help of his son. They reunited to take on this project of ten-plus years together,” Gilman said. “This printing process requires the highest attention to detail, and care, time and space—once that context is better understood, the absolutely outstanding achievement of Havell, Jr. becomes clear.”

The exhibition features two of the four double-elephant folios from The Birds of America, the volumes named for their unprecedented large paper size. Drawn from the Chester H. Thordarson Collection in University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries’ Special Collections, the volumes will be displayed with an investigation into Havell and his family’s contributions to the history of intaglio printmaking, the first exhibition of its kind.

Alongside the two volumes, this exhibition will feature one of Audubon’s watercolor studies, drawn from the Chazen Museum of Art collection, examples of other prints published by the Havell family, and test prints made by Emily Arthur, associate professor in the UW–Madison art department.

This exhibition was conceived by Arthur along with Curator of Special Collections at Memorial Library Robin Rider, Ph.D., and produced with the assistance of project assistant and art history graduate student Katherine Gallman.

“We’re proud to be partnering with the University of Wisconsin and the Madison community to host SGCI’s golden anniversary,” Gilman said. “In honor of the occasion, we look forward to showcasing some of the most inventive printmaking to celebrate their legacy.”










Today's News

January 20, 2022

Claremont Rug Company Reports Unprecedented Growth in 2021

Theodore Roosevelt statue removal begins at Museum of Natural History

Sotheby's to offer a collection of five paintings by Claude Monet

Seattle Asian Art Museum presents inaugural show by new Curator of South Asian Art

Ricardo Bofill, architect of otherworldly buildings, dies at 82

Roland Auctions announces Private Collector's Auction and Winter Wonderland Auction

Listen to keyboard music by Bach (no, not that one)

Exhibition explores printmaker who brought Audubon's vision to life

Megan Lykins Reich will lead Cleveland's Museum of Contemporary Art

Rare vintage character model maquettes steal spotlight at Heritage Auctions

Phillips to host online-only auction raising funds for women's reproductive rights

Works by Kabuya Pamela Bowens-Saffo on view at Essex Flowers

Yvette Mimieux, who found fame in 'The Time Machine,' dies at 80

'The Kite Runner' is coming to Broadway

Bonhams appoints André Bodson as Chief Transformation Officer

'This Beautiful Future' review: Love glows in war's shadow

The Dumbledore of clowning

American LGBTQ+ Museum names first executive director

Rhona Hoffman Gallery opens a group exhibition curated by Ben Gill

Bonhams appoints Patrick Masson as Director for Europe

Nobel Prize won by Walter Kohn, Kindertransport survivor to be auctioned

Christie's exhibits selections from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his family foundation

As Broadway struggles, Governor proposes expanded tax credit

Ahlers & Ogletree announces results of New Year's Signature Estates Auction

Can You Get A Free Phone If You Have Medicare?

Learn How to Make a PowerPoint More Creative and Interesting

The Complete Guide to Tree Services and How They are Disrupting Gardening & Landscaping

Exploring the shining musical world of Shay Pinto's Lomipo single "New Man"




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

sa gaming free credit
Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful