Edward Lear. The Parrots. The Complete Plates

Edward Lear's Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots, is a set of 42 hand-colored lithographs that showcase his exceptional skill as an illustrator of birds and reptiles. The collection, which includes African, Australian, and American parrots bred by renowned ornithologists, was reproduced in only 175 precious sets and sold by subscription to Britain's most eminent scholars and wealthy collectors of living parrots. Lear's drawings, made from live parrots, capture their expressions and movements in remarkably lifelike illustrations, and the hand-colored lithography medium enhances the vivid elegance of his work. The title revives TASCHEN's XL-sized edition in a more accessible format, allowing all to admire Lear's parrots once again.

Format: Hardback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2018
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Edward Lear, renowned for his nonsensical verse, achieved remarkable success in his early years as an illustrator of birds and reptiles. This set of 42 hand-colored lithographs, originally titled Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots, stands as the pinnacle of his relatively brief career as a natural history draftsman. However, his eyesight began to deteriorate, prompting him to shift his focus to writing. During Lear's era, live parrots were highly sought after, fetching substantial prices and being prized by the European aristocracy for their stunning plumage and remarkable ability to mimic human speech. Consequently, exquisite drawings of these birds were highly valued. One of the earliest collections dedicated solely to parrots, Parrots, features African, Australian, and American parrots bred by renowned ornithologists like Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby, who supported and guided Lear's work. Unlike other avian illustrators who often worked with stuffed birds, Lear chose to draw from live parrots, capturing their expressions and movements with remarkable lifelike accuracy. The introduction of hand-colored lithography played a significant role in enhancing the vivid elegance of Lear's artwork. This exquisite collection was originally reproduced in a limited edition of 175 sets and was exclusively sold by subscription to Britain's most esteemed scholars and wealthy collectors of living parrots. The Psittacidae family established Lear as a celebrated illustrator and professor of drawing to the young Queen Victoria. This title, in a more accessible and optimized format, revives TASCHEN's XL-sized edition, reintroducing Lear's parrots to the world for all to admire.

Weight: 1332g
Dimension: 335 x 247 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836569088