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AUDUBON, John James (1785-1851), and Joseph Bartholomew KIDD
American Goldfinch
Edinburgh, 1831. Oil on millboard, with label on verso: "R. Davy, 83 Newman St., London, colorman to artists," 18 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches. In fine condition. Framed.
An important original oil painting from the Audubon/Kidd collaboration.
This painting is a collaboration between John James Audubon and the English artist Joseph Bartholomew Kidd, whom Audubon hired to help him create a gallery of The Birds of America in oils. These paintings reproduced Audubon's images as they appeared in the double elephant folio. The two artists worked together to create ninety-four oils, according to Audubon's records. Audubon intended to create an exhibition to which he would charge admission, ultimately selling the original oils. He wrote: "I truely believe that an exhibition of these Pictures in this Country (i.e. the United States) would pay Monstrously Well!" However, by 1834 his relationship with Kidd broke down, and he sold the paintings without organizing the show he had envisioned. About forty of these oils are now recorded in institutions (Harvard, American Museum of Natural History, Princeton, National Gallery, Yale, and others), whilst others remain in private hands - including some in the possession of direct descendants of Audubon.
The present painting, the American Goldfinch, appeared as plate 33 of the double elephant folio, issued in early 1828. In Audubon's diary entry of July 29, 1831, he lists it as one of the paintings he hopes to execute with Kidd. The birds are shown in their brightest spring plumage of yellow. They are depicted on a flowering thistle plant, their favorite source of food and nesting material. The green thistles and yellow birds are set off handsomely against the bright summer sky. As usual with the Audubon/Kidd oils, it is unsigned and undated.
This painting apparently remained in the possession of the Audubon family until 1863, when Audubon's widow evidently gave it to one of her grandchildren. While the present painting is unmarked, we know that it was purchased by the Old Print Shop in New York on Oct. 6, 1950 from Mrs. John F. Carlson, along with the oil painting of the House Wren, which was inscribed: "G.R. Audubon from Mrs. J.J. Audubon, 1863." That painting is now in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The Old Print Shop sold the present painting to one Louise Jerecki in 1951, from whom it passed through several hands to the present owner.
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#9805 $195,000.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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