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Audubon's Dream Realized: Selections from "The Birds of America"

September 25, 2005 – March 26, 2006
West Building, Ground Floor, Central Galleries

Robert Havell after John James Audubon, Great Footed Hawk, 1827, hand-colored etching and aquatint on Whatman paper, Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James, 1945.8.16

This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.

Overview: 50 hand-colored prints by John James Audubon were selected from the National Gallery's early edition of The Birds of America, one of only 2 known sets of prints preserved in their original unbound state. The edition was given to the National Gallery in 1945 by Mrs. Walter B. James. Also on view was Audubon's painting Osprey and Weakfish, donated by Richard Mellon Scaife early in 2005.

"Feathered Friends," family workshops conducted by artist and educator Clare Grizzard, taught drawing and watercolor techniques and explored Audubon's pictures. The family workshops were made possible by ChoicePoint Government Services.

Organization: The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. The curator was Carlotta Owens, assistant curator of modern prints and drawings.

Sponsor: The exhibition was made possible by General Dynamics.

Attendance: 317,096