Description

A vigorous portrayal of two peregrine falcons with their fresh duck prey, John James Audubon's painting relates to his groundbreaking Birds of America publication that sought to depict every species of native North American bird posed in action with elements of their habitats. Based on his artistic and scientific successes, Audubon became the premier naturalist in the United States. After his death, he continued to be associated with bird and nature conservation, and several organizations devoted to such causes were named in his honor. However, in recent years, as Audubon's slaveholding and looting of Indigenous graves has become more widely acknowledged, an increasing number of these groups are changing their names.

Provenance

John James Audubon [1785-1851], New York, NY, by descent to his wife, Lucy Bakewell Audubon (c. 1827-); Lucy Bakewell Audubon [1787-1874], New York, NY, by descent to her son, John Woodhouse Audubon (?); John Woodhouse Audubon [1812-1862], New York, NY, by descent to his daughter, Lucy A. Williams (?); Lucy Audubon Williams [1838-1909], Greenburgh, Westerchester, NY, probably by descent to her grandson, Charles F. Edwards (?); Charles F. Edwards [1878-1954], Chicago, IL and Alameda, CA, by descent to his sister, Margaret McCormick (?); Mrs. H.V. (Margaret) McCormick, Long Island, NY and Staten Island, NY, sold to Kennedy Galleries (?); (Kennedy Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (by 1964); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio (1964-)