John James Audubon Prints

John James Audubon was famous for creating Birds of America, a 454 page colossal book of prints of the birds he discovered on his journeys in America. He spent significant time in the South so you will find his prints in many historic Southern homes. Our family has always claimed that Judge Henry Bry knew him and that Audubon visited here. We haven’t found definitive proof of that but we know Bry’s son-in-law, Robert Layton and Audubon’s son, John James Audubon, traveled to California during the Gold Rush in 1849 - and both wrote diaries about their adventure. So certainly the families are connected.

On the left side of the dining room are a group of Audubon prints from the Bowen and Bien publications in Philadelphia. The first edition of prints done in England by Robert Havell are watercolor, and are quite desirable at auctions. Each print features an inscription with the title and a little more information.

Cotton Rats shows a Louisiana scene of a cabin in the 1850's, published after his bird prints. Audubon traveled throughout America painting and sketching birds and animals in their natural habitats.

In the corner is the Purple Grackle, or crow, also painted in Louisiana in about 1825. It has been restored by removing the discolored yellowish brown stain with restorative chemicals. 

In the center of the room above the breakfront is Audubon’s famous Wild Turkey print, the very first plate of his Birds of America series. In the news you might see a version of this at the White House with a president standing before it shaking hands with a guest.