Birds of the World

The Art of Elizabeth Gould

Andrea Hart, Ann Datta

$140

Hardback

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English

Prestel Verlag
01 November 2023

Individual artists, art monographs; Mathematics & Sciences

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- This is the first monograph on Elizabeth Gould and it’s long overdue! The text is informative and well written, but the glory of the book is in its finely reproduced, full-colour plates. The birds are organised geographically - Europe, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Australia - and include some previously unpublished artworks. A lavish volume which pays tribute to her great skill and talent, and finally brings her out of her husband’s shadow. Lindy

Artist and illustrator Elizabeth Gould is finally given the recognition she deserves in this gorgeous volume that includes hundreds of her stunning and scientifically precise illustrations of birds from nearly every continent.

For all of her short life, Elizabeth Gould's artistic career was appreciated through the lens of her husband, ornithologist John Gould, with whom she embarked on a series of ambitious projects to document and illustrate the birds of the world. Elizabeth played a crucial role in her husband's lavish publications, creating beautifully detailed and historically significant accurate illustrations of over six hundred birds -many of which were new to science. However, Elizabeth's role was not always fully credited and, following her tragic death aged only thirty-seven, her efforts and talent were nearly forgotten.

This marvellous volume offers a new and timely tribute to Elizabeth's reputation and skill. It opens with an introduction to her life and achievements that reflects the latest scholarship. Following is a geographically organized collection of full-color plates depicting birds from nineteenth-century Europe, South and Central America, Africa, Asia, and Australia including previously unpublished original artworks.

Filled with the highest quality reproductions, this volume allows readers to appreciate first-hand Gould's talent for capturing the unique character of each species and the beauty of avian diversity. At the same time it offers a valuable reconsideration of a woman who left a lasting legacy as one of the greatest bird painters of all time.

AUTHORS: Andrea Hart is the Special Collections Manager at the Natural History Museum, London, England. She has authored numerous books and articles on the museum's library collections.

Ann Datta studied zoology and librarianship and for many years was the zoology librarian at the Natural History Museum, London, England. She has published many articles on key natural history figures and collections - in particular on the life and works of John Gould.

SELLING POINTS: .

PERFECT FOR readers interested in zoological/ornithological illustrations; readers interested in women's achievements in history, in (re-)discovering the artist Elizabeth Gould. .

THE FIRST MONOGRAPH on Elizabeth Gould, her art and how she contributed essentially to the success of her husband's books on birds. .

DISCOVER THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD through the astounding and beautiful art of Elizabeth Gould

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EXPERTLY RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN: Andrea Hart and Ann Data are closely connected to the Natural History Museum in London and have the access to all sources necessary to bring Elizabeth Gould's story back to life. .

EVEN TODAY the accuracy and detail of Elizabeth Gould's vivid drawings of birds meet the standard of scientific illustrators of which she was one of the first. .

BEAUTIFULLY PRODUCED: This coffee table book is a perfect gift for bird and art lovers alike.

220 colour illustrations

By: Andrea Hart, Ann Datta
Imprint: Prestel Verlag
Country of Publication: Germany
Dimensions: Height: 343mm, Width: 241mm,
Weight: 567g
ISBN: 9783791379876
ISBN 10: 3791379879
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 01 November 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

ANDREA HART is the Special Collections Manager at the Natural History Museum, London, England. She has authored numerous books and articles on the museum's library collections. ANN DATTA studied zoology and librarianship and for many years was the zoology librarian at the Natural History Museum, London, England. She has published many articles on key natural history figures and collections - in particular on the life and works of John Gould.

Reviews for Birds of the World: The Art of Elizabeth Gould

In BIRDS OF THE WORLD we find lithographs whose knowingly slapdash linework, paired with bright pigments and quick washes, makes prints such as her candy-cloudy Senegalese woodland kingfisher feel like daydreams as much as records. As Her Majesty’s navies and naturalists patrolled the world, Gould limned its limits, whetting the visual imagination of an ever-reaching empire.