John Gould (British, 1804-1881). Joseph Wolf (German, 1820-1899). "Falco candicans. Greenland Falcon, dark race, adult." London. Ca. 1862-1873. A very rare, hand-colored lithograph from the original first edition of John Gould's "Birds of Great Britain", published in 1862-1873. Among historical ornithological works, this one is exemplary and generally regarded as Gould’s masterpiece. It represents the culmination of his life-long's work in the natural world as well as immense experience in avian art and 19th century publishing. Fine Bird Books has given it 3 stars - a stellar endorsement. This lithograph presents skillful drawing and superb original hand coloring. The original descriptive text on creamy white paper with gilded edges is also included with this piece. Gould writes with great enthusiasm and meticulous detail. Size: sheet measures 21.25" L x 14.75" W (54 cm x 37.5 cm); visible image 20.25" L x 13.5" W (51.4 cm x 34.3 cm); 32.125" L x 24.75" W (81.6 cm x 62.9 cm) with framing

John Gould was an ornithologist, a self-taught artist, as well as a naturalist. From 1818 to 1824, Gould was a gardener working under his father in the Royal Gardens of Windsor, where he began creating illustrations. In time, he became an accomplished taxidermist, opening his own practice in London in 1824. In 1827, Gould became the first Curator and Preserver at the museum of the Zoological Society of London. His interest in birds kept developing, and in 1830 he published "A Century of Birds From the Himalaya Mountains" - his first volume on birds. For the next fifty years, Gould, his wife Elizabeth, and several other artists including Joseph Wolf working with them sojourned throughout the world to depict and describe hundreds of species in their natural environs.

Graham Arader notes that Sir Edwin Landseer described Joseph Wolf as, "Without exception, the best all-around animal painter that ever lived." Arader continues with the following biography of the artist, "Originally from Prussia, Wolf's paintings of wild animals are renowned for their spectacular use of colour: pinks, blues, and greens; for the astonishing realism of feet, fur, and feather texture; and for their detailed backgrounds, which often include smaller but still perfectly painted and fully animated. As a young man he was apprenticed to Gebruder Becker, lithographers at Koblenz, where he was employed as designer, principally of trade circulars. A chance meeting with Eduard Ruppell, the ornithologist and explorer, 'gave him an introduction to the director of the grand ducal natural history museum at Darmstadt, Johann Kaup. Wolf obtained employment in Darmstadt as a lithographer with the publisher Ernst Kern, and in his free time worked for Rüppell, executing drawings for Ruppell's 'Systematische Uebersicht der Vögel Nord-Ost-Afrikas' (1845). He was subsequently given illustrative work for Hermann Schlegel and H. Wulverhorst's 'Traite de fauconneri'" (1844), but an attack of ague forced his return to Darmstadt, where he attended the art school, going in 1847 to study at the Antwerp Academy. In February 1848, as revolution spread across the continent, Wolf went to London at the invitation of David William Mitchell, secretary of the Zoological Society of London. There he assisted Mitchell with a British Museum-based project, illustrating Robert Gray's 'Genera of Birds' (1844-9); afterwards he assisted John Gould with illustrations for 'Birds of Great Britain' (1862-73)." (https://aradergalleries.com/collections/joseph-wolf-1820-1899)

This same lithograph is featured on Panteek for $995 - https://www.panteek.com/JosephWolfEaglePrints/pages/jgb502-141.htm

Provenance: private Jon and Mary Williams collection, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Mary Williams has more than 35 years of experience as a trusted source for quality paintings, sculpture, and antique prints and maps. She has also represented some of America's finest artists.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#141401

This is an original antique lithograph that is in excellent condition and has beautiful framing. It has been executed to full museum standards using the highest quality frames and mats. Some age wear to page of original descriptive text included with the piece, but this is for the most part to the edges of the page. The text is perfectly vivid and legible, on both sides of the page, and gilt remains on the edges.