John James Audubon (1785–1851)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), Havell pl. 252, 1832
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, gouache, and black ink with scratching out and selective glazing on paper, laid on card; 21 3/8 x 29 5/16 in. (54.3 x 74.5 cm)
Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.252
JJA called this bird the Florida Cormorant, which he drew in Florida, and thought it was a different species from the Double-crested Cormorant, which he also portrayed in 1863.17.257.
John James Audubon (1785–1851)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), Havell pl. 257, 1833
Watercolor, pastel, graphite, gouache, and black ink with scraping and selective glazing on paper, laid on card; 14 13/16 x 21 7/16 in. (37.6 x 54.5 cm)
Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.257
John James Audubon (1785–1851)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Havell pl. 266, 1833; 1834
Watercolor, graphite, pastel, black ink, and gouache with touches of white lead pigment and selective glazing on paper that has had a strip trimmed off and reattached during mounting, all laid on card; 25 9/16 x 38 3/16 in. (64.9 x 97 cm)
Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon, 1863.17.266
Audubon also depicted this species of cormorants during the Labrador Expedition. “Look at the birds before you, and mark the affectionate glance of the mother, as she stand beside her beloved younglings,” wrote Audubon. “I wish you could have witnessed the actions of such groups as I did while in Labrador.”
