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I gave identifying info about this work to Perplexity with the instructions to research it and tell me all the interesting things it could about the work. Here’s what we got:

The Magnificent Feathered Symphony: Audubon's "The Birds of America"

A majestic bald eagle swoops down toward a fish splashing in crystal-clear waters. Nearby, a delicate ruby-throated hummingbird hovers beside a vibrant flower, its wings a blur of motion. In another scene, a pair of Carolina parakeets—now tragically extinct—perch on a branch, their vibrant green and yellow plumage captured in exquisite detail. These breathtaking moments of avian life are just a few of the 435 stunning hand-colored illustrations that comprise John James Audubon's masterpiece, "The Birds of America."

A Monumental Achievement in Natural History Art

"The Birds of America" isn't a single painting but rather an extraordinary collection of life-sized bird illustrations published between 1827 and 1838. Its original title, "The Birds of America; from original drawings by John James Audubon," aptly describes this labor of love that changed wildlife illustration forever.

Picture this: enormous sheets of paper—called "double-elephant" broadsheets measuring a staggering 39½ by 26½ inches—each featuring birds depicted at their actual size. A wild turkey, a great blue heron, a bald eagle—all rendered in breathtaking detail at their natural dimensions. No one had attempted such a feat before Audubon, and the results were nothing short of revolutionary.

A Window to Lost Worlds

As you flip through the pages of this magnificent tome, you're transported not just across the American wilderness, but also through time. Among the hundreds of species captured by Audubon's brushes are birds we can never see again—five definitively extinct species and three more possibly lost forever. The Carolina parakeet, passenger pigeon, Labrador duck, great auk, and pinnated grouse now exist only in museums, memories, and Audubon's painstaking portraits.

There's something profoundly moving about gazing at Audubon's vibrant rendering of the passenger pigeon—once so numerous their flocks darkened American skies for days—knowing that the last member of this species died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. His work serves as both celebration and elegy.

A Revolutionary Approach to Bird Illustration

Before Audubon, bird illustrations were often stiff, posed affairs that failed to capture the vitality of living creatures. Our artistic pioneer changed everything with his innovative techniques.

Imagine Audubon in the wilderness, his rifle in one hand and sketchbook in the other. After carefully hunting specimens, he would arrange them using wire frameworks to create lifelike poses that captured their natural behaviors. A hunting hawk appears mid-dive; warblers perch as if about to burst into song; ducks seem ready to take flight from the very page.

Art historians praise these works for their "artistic finesse" and lifelike quality. The birds seem to breathe on the paper, caught in moments of their daily lives against meticulously rendered backgrounds of American flora.

A Collaborative Masterpiece

Though Audubon's name stands largest on this monumental work, "The Birds of America" was truly a collaborative effort. His assistant Joseph Mason painted the plant life backgrounds for about 50 of the bird studies, though sadly went uncredited in the book. Maria Martin (who later married John Bachman) contributed beautiful background plants and insects. George Lehman was hired to draw some of the perches and background details.

The actual production of these magnificent prints was equally collaborative. After struggling to find a publisher in Philadelphia, Audubon took his vision to Europe. William Home Lizars in Edinburgh initially agreed to engrave and print the massive folios but completed only ten plates before Audubon approached London engravers Robert Havell and his son Robert Jr., who ultimately brought this magnificent work to life over the course of a decade.

From Dream to Reality: The Publishing Journey

The story behind the creation of "The Birds of America" is as remarkable as the work itself. Facing financial difficulties after failed business ventures, Audubon nevertheless pursued his ambitious dream. Unable to secure a publisher in America, he sailed to Scotland and England in 1826, where his extraordinary drawings garnered attention from prominent naturalists and scientists.

The work was published serially in five-plate sets over eleven years, with subscribers paying as they received each installment. Only about 200 complete sets were ever produced, making original copies among the most valuable books in existence.

The Artist's Journey: Frontier Naturalist to Immortal Name

Born in 1785 in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo (now Haiti), Jean-Jacques Fougère Audubon was the illegitimate son of a French sea captain and his Creole mistress. Growing up in Nantes, France, young Audubon developed an early passion for birds, collecting and illustrating countryside specimens. To avoid conscription in the Napoleonic Wars, his father sent him at age 18 to manage a farm near Philadelphia.

In America, Audubon (now calling himself John James) met and married Lucy Bakewell in 1808. The couple moved to Kentucky, where Audubon attempted various business ventures—merchant, miller, portrait painter—all while his obsession with birds grew. When these enterprises failed, Audubon turned his full attention to his lifelong passion, traveling extensively throughout the American wilderness to document its avian treasures.

The result—"The Birds of America"—transformed this struggling businessman into one of history's most celebrated wildlife artists, whose name would eventually grace the nation's premier conservation organization. Nearly two centuries later, his vibrant birds continue to soar, a testament to one man's extraordinary vision and determination.

Conclusion: A Living Legacy

"The Birds of America" is more than just a beautiful book—it's a portal into the natural world, a groundbreaking scientific document, and a testament to artistic determination. Each illustration tells a story—not just of the bird depicted, but of a man who devoted his life to capturing America's feathered treasures with unparalleled skill and passion. As you gaze at these magnificent birds, rendered with such care and precision, you can almost hear their calls echoing across the centuries.

And that's it!

If you have any details you think Perplexity left out, reply to this email and I'll adjust my prompt to nudge it to include it next time.

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Thanks for reading!

-JP

Current prompt: I want you to create a newsletter post describing the fun and exciting stories around a painting. It should be a newsletter read for leisure and should be an enjoyable read (not just a list of facts) here's what you’re gonna do: Find the name of the following painting in its original language and any alternative names it goes by. Then Research the painting and give me blurb telling me all you can about the artist, the historical context/events it was created in, the style, the materials used, the composition and visual elements, the story/underlying message, what inspired the work/what it meant to the author, and whatever other info you find that helps give a complete understanding of the work. A description of what is depicted (mention subjects) should be the first thing, while the “biography” of the artist should be last. if the work has a lot of meaning behind it, then that is what the meat of the newsletter should be. Besides that you are free to present the information in a concise and captivating way, with the most interesting and novel stuff closest to the top. Order the presentation of information for which pieces have the most compelling and interesting story to tell. At least some of the description should be formatted like a story. [for example: a couple sits on a bench watching the sunset while a man next to them…]. ONLY include information that is for THIS SPECIFIC PAINTING. you will find info on paintings similar to this one but NOT this one. OMMIT INFO ABOUT SUCH PIECES. remember, the goal is to make the most compelling, intriguing, and fun to read newsletter as possible, so keep that above all else.