Description: After acquiring two new sets of this work thirteen years ago, I had one complete set (42 plates) framed and wall-mounted thus creating my personal aviary of Edward Lear's exquisitely executed renderings. Being surrounded by the large (20 x 13.5") illustrations, each unique with magnificent detail and vivid colors is an almost other-worldly experience. I've added an audio reproduction of their natural sounds and my "parrot sanctuary" has become an immersive, dynamic experience. Now, 13 years since I first acquired The Parrots I offer the second set for sale in new condition. Edward Lear was already drawing "for bread and cheese" by the time he was aged 16 and soon developed into a serious "ornithological draughtsman" employed by the Zoological Society, and from 1832 to 1836 by the Earl of Darby who kept a private menagerie at his estate. In the 19th century parrots were highly prized by the aristocracy and patrons of the arts. Lear's The Parrots, comprised the first illustrations of it's kind from living birds. These hand colored lithographs were offered as very precious sets to 175 subscribers. The Edward Lear Society continues to exist Details: Elephant Folio of 42 leaves of plates, in portfolio.Included is a 32 page softcover of the same size With a brief zoological introduction and written descriptions of each bird (Multi-lingual English, German, and French) on both Lear's book, and the biology of parrots. The whole comes in a sturdy cloth-bound box.Condition: Brand newItem Length: 20̈Item Height: 1.5̈Item Width: 13.5̈__________________________________________________________________________________________________________More about Edward LearEdward 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 Lear's 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 mimicry 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 Lear's work.Bought for large sums of money from travelers and merchants, parrots were the object of much fascination to 19th century European aristocracy for their colorful liveries and most of all for their ability to speak, sing, and imitate the human voice. Completed in 1832 when he was just 20, Edward Lear's set of 42 hand-colored lithographs entitled Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots comprise one of the first collections entirely dedicated to parrots in the history of scientific illustration; they include different African, Australian, and American species bred by the collections subscribers, amongst whom were the artists patrons Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby. The young and prodigiously talented Lear (1812-1888) made his drawings from live parrots, the collection was reproduced in only 175 precious sets This exquisite collection was originally reproduced in only 175 precious sets and sold by subscription to Britain s 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. Included is a brief zoological introduction and written descriptions of each bird.
Price: 455 USD
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
End Time: 2024-12-12T03:07:18.000Z
Shipping Cost: 15 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Binding: Unbound Elephant Folio
Type: Parrots: Scientific Illustration
Language: Tri-lingual: English, French, German
Illustrator: Edward Lear
Special Attributes: Elephant Folio of 42 Leaves of Plates in Portfolio, Contained in Cloth Bound Box, Collector's Edition
Author: Edward Lear
Features: Collector's Edition
Publisher: Taschen
Topic: Parrots
Subject: Parrots: Scientific Illustrations
Year Printed: 2009
Original/Facsimile: Original