Ornithological pictures today represent a faithful reproduction of nature, perfected by 20th century colour printing techniques and photographic reproduction. But the 19th century still reflected the conflict of art and science necessitating either an artistic or a scientific compromise: at times the naturalist insisted on the more scientific detail, at times the artist prevailed with more voluptuous colour.

The two great names of 19th century ornithological art are of Anglo-American origin: John James Audubon, though American, published his Elephant Folios of the Birds of America, consisting of more than 400 plates, in London, and John Gould, the English “birdman” was to produce 41 large folio volumes with a total of almost 3000 plates over a span of half a century, from the thirties to the eighties – an achievement of the highest calibre, both in quantity and quality. Enhanced by the new lithographic techniques, their publications reached new artistic heights in both beauty and style.

The GALLERY OF PRINTS is proud to offer some original water-colours of Philippine Birds, executed by John Gould for his “Birds of Asia” – aside from a number of hand-coloured lithographs of Philippine Birds. Additional Philippine Birds on sale are original hand-colour prints by Arthur Hay and Richard Bowdler Sharpe – many of them featured in the book “The Philippines in the 19th Century” by our curator Rudolf J. H. Lietz. The 18th Century is represented by a selection of Philippine birds – rare original hand-colour copper engravings by Pierre Martinet, including such extinct birds as the Philippine Pelican.

Exhibit Period: 23 November – 24 December 2006