American White Pelican

1836

Robert Havell after John James Audubon

Associated Names
Robert Havell, Jr.

Artist, American, born England, 1793 - 1878

John James Audubon

Artist After, American, 1785 - 1851

This is a detailed print of a white pelican standing at the edge of dark water, facing the left. The bird's wings are tucked in, and its large pouch rests on its long, thin neck. The pelican has mostly white feathers with some touches of pale yellow and some black feathers on the edges of its wings. There is a tuft of pale-yellow feathers behind its head, and its beak is yellow, with thin, dark veins crisscrossing its pouch. The pelican's feet are light yellow, and it stands on brown ground. In the background is a dark body of water with some dark trees in the distance, and the sky above is dark and cloudy.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James

  • Dimensions

    image: 89.54 × 60.01 cm (35 1/4 × 23 5/8 in.)
    plate: 97 x 64.8 cm (38 3/16 x 25 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 100.4 x 67.6 cm (39 1/2 x 26 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1945.8.311

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Birds of America, no. 311

  • Series Title

    The Birds of America: Plate CCCXI

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. 20.

Bibliography

1827

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

Wikidata ID

Q65083372

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