Great American Cock

1827

William Home Lizars

Artist, Scottish, 1788 - 1859

A wild turkey standing among tall grasses and reeds against a cream-white background nearly fills this vertical, hand-colored etching. The bird’s body faces our right, and its pale, steel-blue, scrawny neck, small head, and short beak turn to look to our left in profile. Pink bulges line the bird’s neck, and its dark eye is wide and alert. A triangular, short, horn-like protrusion over the beak appears to be covered in fuzz. The turkey’s stout and robust body is covered with golden-orange feathers down its back and around the breast. Black and white striped wings are tucked along its body below, and the tawny-brown feathers of its tail fans out to nearly brush the ground. Feathers where the bird’s ribbed and scaly, pale pink and gray legs meet the body are striped ruby red and black. The bird strides to our right on a dirt ground with tufts of plants. The reeds, some of them bamboo-like, fade in the background around the turkey. Text at the top center of the print reads, “PLATE 1.” The artist’s name is printed below the image under the left corner: “Drawn by J.J. Audubon M.W.S.” Printed cursive text across the bottom margin of the page reads, “Great American Cock Male” and block letters read, “VULGO (WILD TURKEY--) Meleagris Gallopavo. A printed inscription under the right corner reads, “Engraved by W. H. Lizars. Edinr.”

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    hand-colored etching on Whatman paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 99 x 64.5 cm (39 x 25 3/8 in.)

  • Accession

    1945.8.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Birds of America, no. 1


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2005

  • Audubon's Dream Realized: Selections from "The Birds of America". The National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2005.

2016

  • Three Centuries of American Prints: from the National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington; National Gallery in Prague, Prague 1; Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, Mexico City; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, 2016 - 2017, no. 19.

Bibliography

1827

  • Audubon, John James. The Birds of America. London: 1827-1838.

Wikidata ID

Q65087404


You may be interested in

Loading Results