The Parrots

Autor: FRANCESCO SOLINAS

Editorial: TASCHEN

Lenguaje: Español

ISBN13: 9783836569088

Reseña: Edward Lear may be best known for his nonsense verse but in his early years he excelled as an illustrator of birds and reptiles. This set of 42 hand-colored lithographs originally entitled Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae or Parrots was the finest achievement of his relatively brief career as a natural history draftsman before failing eyesight led him to concentrate on his writing. During Lears time live parrots were rare and much sought-after bought and sold for large sums by wealthy amateurs of natural history and prized by 19th century European aristocracy for their astonishing plumage and mimickry of the human voice. Naturally fine drawings of them were also highly prized. One of the first collections entirely dedicated to the species Parrots includes African Australian and American parrots bred by eminent ornithologists such as Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby who sponsored Lear inspiring and directing his work. Unlike other avian illustrators who often worked with stuffed birds the young and prodigiously talented Lear (1812-1888) made his drawings from live parrots capturing their expressions and movements in remarkably lifelike illustrations. The new medium of hand-colored lithography facilitated the vivid elegance of Lears work. This exquisite collection was originally reproduced in only 175 precious sets and sold by subscription to Britains most eminent scholars and wealthy collectors of living parrots. The Psittacidae established Lear as a celebrated illustrator and professor of drawing to the young Queen Victoria. With a brief zoological introduction and written descriptions of each bird this title revives TASCHENs XL-sized edition to a more accessible optimized format bringing Lears parrots back to life for all to admire.