John James Audubon (26 April, 1785 – 27 January, 1851) was born Jean-Jacques Audubon in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo, France (today Haiti). He became famous for his studies, paintings, and drawings that mainly captured North American birds. Audubon was raised in France, but he later moved to the United States at the age of 18 where he ventured into business. After being unsuccessful in business, he ventured into studying birds and experimenting with their drawing. He roamed the hills along Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek where he observed and sketched birds. Audubon got more fascinated with the surroundings and his new found love of birds and wildlife. During his time in Mill Grove, he pioneered the art of reproducing birds and wildlife through his sketching and illustrations. He experimented with drawings and produced the first recorded bird branding in America. Audubon is reputed to having created an innovative "wire armature," a device that injected life into his specimens. This device and his mastery of his art pushed him way ahead of his contemporaries.
To date, it’s widely believed no painter has matched his achievements in portraying birds. This is in spite of the development in photography and technology. Audubon illustrated several birds and managed to change how birds are illustrated. He displayed birds by clearly capturing their features and narrative elements in a manner that made his works be regarded as true art. His Birds of America artwork comes as one of his most fabled pieces. He also wrote biographies compiled from his travels in different locations. He has had a huge influence in ornithology, with many works done after him being influenced by him.
"I felt an intimacy with them...bordering on frenzy [that] must accompany my steps through life."
