Wing of a European Roller, 1512 Plumes, from Le Larousse pour tous: nouveau dictionnaire encyclopédique, vol. II, Watercolor and opaque colours, heightened with opaque white, on parchment, 19.6 × 20 cm / 7 ¾ × 8 in by Pierre Larousse and Claude Augé, 1909 Albertina Museum, Vienna Chromolithograph, 30 × 21 cm / 11 ¾ × 8 ¼ in University of Ottawa, Toronto From dark blues to bright reds, the remarkable colours much more common in the artist’s time than it is figures, and he became official court artist to Holy Among the finest of the full colour plates in the of all kinds; even the uniquely fan-shaped crest of the before birds evolved (see p.26), and their initial function of the wing of a dead European roller (Coracias today. The sole European representative of the roller Roman Emperor Maximilian I and to his successor popular encyclopaedia Le Larousse pour tous are royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus). The centrepiece was probably insulation. Le Larousse pour tous repregarrulus) are displayed in this remarkable study by family – the eleven other species are found in tropical Charles V. As well as producing many religious the natural history illustrations of Adolphe Millot is the complete tail of a Reeve’s pheasant (Syrmaticus sents the very best in early twentieth-century book the renowned German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471– regions – it spends its summers in central and eastern paintings and woodcuts, Dürer also pioneered the use (1857–1921), naturalist and senior illustrator at the reevesii), which can measure up to 2.4 m (almost 8 ft) design, embellished with fine monochrome engravings 1528), a major figure of the Northern Renaissance Europe, migrating to sub-Saharan Africa for the of watercolour to depict scenes from nature, both as Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Each – among the longest of any bird. Feathers have evolved and full-colour plates. While in these days of internet who excelled as a landscape painter and printmaker, winter. Born to a goldsmith in Nuremberg, Dürer was landscapes and in his studies of plants and animals, plate is composed to illustrate the diversity of nature. a myriad of colours, textures and shapes. Some provide search engines it is sad to reflect on the redundancy but who also frequently made detailed studies of apprenticed to local artist Michael Wolgemut at the combining acute observation with the ability to This one, Plumes, shows both individual feathers camouflage, while others are elaborately ornamented of physical encyclopaedias like this, it is comforting to wildlife and plants. Here, the structure and texture age of fifteen, and began to hone his prodigious talent capture accurate likenesses. and complete specimens (known as museum skins) for courtship displays. Although feathers enable birds imagine the countless families for whom these books of each feather are faithfully portrayed, as is the in painting, woodcarving and copper engraving. His of an array of bird species: parrots, pittas and birds of to fly, this was only a secondary adaptation. They were were once a treasured possession. rainbow plumage of the crow-like bird, which was reputation brought him to the attention of influential paradise; hummingbirds and tanagers; pheasants present in birds’ dinosaur ancestors millions of years 166 167 Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-pp.110–209-2021.05.13.indd 166 14/05/2021 01:40 Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-pp.110–209-2021.05.13.indd 167 14/05/2021 01:40 Macaw Wings, 2010 Archival pigment print, 150 × 115 cm / 59 × 45 ¼ in Private collection Macrocercus aracanga. Red and Yellow Macaw, from Illustrations of the Family Psittacidae or Parrots, 1832 Hand-coloured lithograph, 54 × 37 cm / 21 ¼ × 14 5/8 in Capturing the back of the bird rather than the front, parrot species. Originally from South and Central his skills on celebrities, including Cate Blanchett, Edward Lear (1812–88) is perhaps best known today for own publication, Illustrations of the Family Psittacidae this scarlet macaw (Ara macao, then known as the red this portrait of a red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus) America, macaws were imported to Europe from the Nicole Kidman and Madonna. After thirty-five years the marvellous illustrated nonsense poems (including or Parrots, for which he deserves greatest credit, and yellow macaw) is perhaps the most iconic of all flies in the face of natural history conventions, and early sixteenth century. They are extremely curious in showbusiness, Heery finally felt ready to tackle The Owl and the Pussycat and The Jumblies) created for particularly in his mastery of the new printing parrot images. Keepers would hold the parrots while defies the unwritten rules of portraiture by omitting birds with strong memories, and were highly prized birds – some of the most enigmatic sitters in the young children – for whom the painfully shy and technique of lithography. Lear was only eighteen when Lear studied them: an exercise probably resulting in the animal’s head altogether. The bold, almost crucifixlike composition, however, preserves a sense of The birds’ rich personalities also made them popular subjects, whose character is expressed through their a highly accomplished natural history illustrator. He monograph devoted to a single family of birds, and went often attracted the attention of members of the public for their ability to mimic sounds and human words. whole of the animal kingdom. For these restless delicate Lear felt an affinity – but by profession he was he conceived the plan of producing the very first many painful bites. Not surprisingly, Lear’s activities mystery while foregrounding the beauty of the wings as pets – and today make them challenging subjects to entire bodies, he constructed a translucent tent in produced many notable and beautiful works for John about the task with remarkable maturity and singlemindedness. He worked directly from the living, entertain them by drawing lightning-fast caricatures in the zoo and, to hide his embarrassment, he would and feathers and still conveying something of the photograph. Before immortalizing birds in creative and which they felt secure and could still fly. ‘I treated it, Gould’s (see p.106) monumental books on ornithology, bird’s personality. For sheer elegance and colour, few original ways, internationally renowned Australian not unlike any other portraiture situation, as a kind as well as animal portraits at Lord Stanley’s menagerie screeching specimens at London Zoo’s Parrot House, – not always complimentary. birds can compete with macaws, the largest of all photographer Gary Heery spent years practising of controlled spontaneity,’ Heery said. at Knowsley Hall near Liverpool. However, it was his and his birds consequently exude life and character: 42 43 Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-pp.010–109-live-file.indd 42 04/05/2021 15:15 Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-pp.010–109-live-file-2021.05.13.indd 43 14/05/2021 01:33 Jazz Wings – Atlantic Puffin in Flight, 2019 Photograph, dimensions variable The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) is surely one of 400 times per minute, to keep the bird aloft. That makes several fish in its bill to the colony. The RSPB invites the world’s most photographed bird species. And the the slower flight speed required for an elegant landing any photographers to submit images of fish-carrying island of Skomer, off the coast of Wales, is one of the difficult. Even with wings spread and webbed feet puffins to its Puffarazzi website. In 2019, 825 people did most accessible areas for those wanting to photograph thrust forwards to serve as air brakes, this puffin so, submitting 2,718 photos from 49 colonies. It is hoped puffins, be they non-specialist day visitors or professionals such as the Welsh Rob Cottle, self-avowed lover will almost certainly topple forward onto its bill the puffins’ diet varies geographically and how it may Cottle has captured preparing to land on Skomer that the images will enable researchers to assess how of tea and hater of rain. Because puffins use their wings when it touches down. An innovative citizen science be changing as seas warm. for underwater propulsion to depths down to 65 m project coordinated by the UK’s Royal Society for (210 ft), their wings are smaller than would be ideal the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has capitalized on the for flight, so they need to be flapped fast, around puffin’s photogenic qualities and its habit of carrying 254 255 MAIN-Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-live-file-020521-pp.210–327.indd 254 05/05/2021 10:19 MAIN-Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-live-file-020521-pp.210–327.indd 255 05/05/2021 10:19 The Wounded Eagle, c.1870 Oil on canvas, 147.6 × 114.6 cm / 58 1/8 × 45 1/8 in Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California Bald Eagle, 1983 Screenprint, 96.5 × 96.5 cm / 38 × 38 in Private collection A golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) struggles to fly with III, at the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian to 2.2 m (7 ft), the golden eagle is one of the largest This colourful screenprint portrait of a bald eagle to the indiscriminate use of DDT for agricultural of ten screenprints immortalizing near-extinct animals a broken wing in this painting by the French artist Rosa War (1870–1), or possibly to the harm Prussia (again, birds living on the French Alps and one of the most (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Andy Warhol (1928–87) purposes. While not necessarily deadly to the birds, – including Grevy’s zebra, the African elephant, the Bonheur (1822–99), unusually depicting the huge and symbolized by an eagle) had caused itself by beginning powerful fliers of all raptors as it hunts other birds, is confirmation of the bird’s iconic status in popular the insecticide interfered with their metabolization of giant panda – just as Warhol had done for some years fearsome raptor in a moment of vulnerability and the conflict. Bonheur made her name painting highly reptiles and mammals. Bonheur’s representation culture. Chosen by the Founding Fathers in 1782 as calcium. This led to them laying brittle eggs that would with his famed rock stars and actors. Today the bald defeat. In Western art, as in classical culture, the eagle accurate images of animals at a time when such paint- defies the convention of the triumphantly confident, the Great Seal of the United States, the bird summons break under the weight of a brooding adult. In 1983, eagle’s numbers have risen to the point that the bird is is traditionally a symbol of martial triumph and pride, ings were considered less important than portraiture masculine bird – a symbolic attack on patriarchy by ideals of majestic power, confidence and elegance. gallerists and environmental activists Ronald and no longer endangered and it is a widely acknowledged used by armies from the Roman legions to Napoleon’s or history painting, but her originality was widely a trailblazing female artist who lived her homosexuality with pride at a time when few dared. eagle joined the list of endangered species in 1967. artist Warhol to produce a series of screenprints to another of Warhol’s species, the Pine Barrens tree frog. A bird of prey native to North America, the bald Frayda Feldman commissioned the renowned Pop success story for the conservation movement – like Grande Armée and the forces of the Hapsburg empire. recognized. She exhibited many times at the Here, the symbolism of the wounded bird may refer prestigious Paris Salon and was awarded the Légion Substantial population declines were linked to raise public awareness on the urgency of wildlife The bald eagle remains protected in the United States to the defeat and capture of the French ruler, Napoleon d’honneur in 1865. With a wingspan measuring up environmental degradation, and most specifically conservation. The result, Endangered Species, is a set under multiple federal laws and regulations. 118 119 Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-pp.110–209-live-file.indd 118 04/05/2021 15:52 Bird-Exploring-the-Winged-World-EN-6140-pp.110–209-2021.05.13.indd 119 14/05/2021 01:38 Albrecht Dürer Adolphe Millot Rob Cottle Gary Heery Edward Lear Rosa Bonheur Andy Warhol BIRDS – DIE WELT DER VÖGEL dokumentiert auf einmalige Weise die weltweite künstlerische, wissenschaftliche und populäre Anziehungskraft von Vögeln über die Jahrtausende hinweg. Zugleich zeigt es die bemerkenswerte Vielfalt der Vogelarten. Von winzigen Kolibris bis zu Straußen, die größer als ein Mensch sind, von Pinguinen im Eis bis zu bunten tropischen Aras enthält dieses Buch bekannte und weniger bekannte Gemälde, Fotografien und andere Kunstwerke aller Stilrichtungen. In durchdachten Gegenüberstellungen zeigt es, wie Malerinnen, Illustratoren, Ornithologinnen und Fotografen – vom alten Ägypten bis zur Gegenwart – den Geist, die Schönheit, den Charakter und die Symbolik der Vögel eingefangen haben. Der opulente Band enthält großformatige Abbildungen, leicht verständliche Texte, eine substanzielle Einführung zum Thema, Referenzinformationen, einschließlich eines ausführlichen Glossars, einer illustrierten Zeitleiste und kompakter Biografien der in diesem Band versammelten Kunstschaffenden. Über 300 visuell überwältigende Abbildungen spannen einen Bogen über viertausend Jahre bildende Kunst, Fotografie, ornithologische Zeichnungen, Populärkultur und wissenschaftliche Entdeckungen aus allen Teilen der Welt und bilden so die ultimative Feier der geflügelten Welt. D D D Eine überwältigende Feier der Schönheit und Vielfalt der Vögel in Kunst, Wissenschaft und Geschichte Perfekt für ein breites Publikum, aber auch für Kunstinteressierte, Designer, Vogel freunde und Naturschützerinnen Über 300 großartige Kunstwerke von der Frühzeit bis heute Katrina van Grouw ist Illustratorin und bildende Künstlerin, die vor allem durch Bücher wie »The Unfeathered Bird« bekannt wurde. Katrina van Grouw BIRDS - Die Welt der Vögel Ein Ausflug in die gefiederte Welt 352 Seiten, Hardcover, edle Ausstattung 25 x 29 cm, €59.00 (D) | € 61.– (A) | sFr. 78.– ISBN: 978-3-03876-285-0 | WG 580 | ET: 15. März 2024
Eine visuelle Schatzkammer und wissensquelle 46 | 57
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