Ferdinand Bauer travelled to Italy and the Levant with John Sibthorp, creating exquisite watercolours and bird illustrations. His Flora Graeca is renowned, but his bird paintings are less known. This book presents his illustrations, with expert text describing the birds' characteristics and history. These paintings are a significant collection of late eighteenth-century ornithological art.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2024
Publisher: Bodleian Library

Ferdinand Bauer's Travels and Artistic Achievements

Ferdinand Bauer, a renowned Austrian natural history artist, embarked on a journey to Italy and the Levant in 1786, accompanied by his employer, John Sibthorp, Oxford Professor of Botany. During the trip, Bauer meticulously drew and painted the flora and fauna he encountered, resulting in exquisite watercolor paintings that are considered some of the finest examples of natural history illustration. While Bauer's botanical paintings, published in the Flora Graeca, are well-known, his illustrations of over a hundred different bird species are equally remarkable. These illustrations, which have been reproduced in this book, showcase Bauer's exceptional talent and attention to detail.

Bauer's journey was not without its challenges. He faced perilous conditions, including adverse weather, illness, bandits, and pirates, during his fifteen-month expedition. Despite these obstacles, he remained dedicated to his work and employed a unique method of recording the precise colors of the birds on his pencil drawings in the field. He used a scheme of color-by-numbers, where each number represented a specific hue, to be used as a reference when he returned to Oxford to prepare the watercolor paintings.

Each illustration in this book is accompanied by a facing page of vivid expert text that describes the characteristics of each bird, interweaving aspects of their ornithological and cultural history with comments on Bauer's depictions. These paintings represent one of the finest collections of late eighteenth-century ornithological art, and have not been widely seen since they were painted some 230 years ago.

Bauer's Method of Recording Colors

Bauer's method of recording colors was innovative and groundbreaking. He employed a system of color-by-numbers, where each number represented a specific hue. This allowed him to accurately capture the colors of the birds in his drawings, even when he was working in difficult conditions. The system was based on a series of colored squares, each representing a different color, and Bauer used a combination of these squares to create the desired colors.

To use the system, Bauer would first draw the outline of the bird on his pencil drawing. He would then assign a number to each color in the drawing, based on the color squares. For example, a red bird would be assigned the number 1, a blue bird would be assigned the number 2, and so on. Once the colors were assigned, Bauer would use a brush to apply the corresponding colors to the drawing.

This method was particularly useful for capturing the subtle variations in color that are often seen in birds. It allowed Bauer to create accurate and detailed paintings that accurately represented the colors of the birds in their natural environment.

Bauer's Illustrations of Bird Species

Bauer's illustrations of bird species are among the finest examples of natural history illustration. He created over a hundred different bird species, each with its own unique characteristics and markings. These illustrations are not only beautiful to look at, but they also provide valuable information about the birds' ornithological and cultural history.

Bauer's illustrations were published in the Flora Graeca, a comprehensive botanical work that was published in the early nineteenth century. However, many of his illustrations were not widely seen until this book was published. This book includes all of Bauer's illustrations of bird species, and provides a detailed description of each illustration, along with its ornithological and cultural history.

One of the most notable features of Bauer's illustrations is his attention to detail. He paid close attention to the shape and size of the birds, as well as their markings and colors. He also included information about the birds' behavior and habitat, which helped to provide a more complete picture of the birds' lives.

Bauer's illustrations of bird species are also notable for their artistic style. He used a combination of realistic and stylized techniques to create his paintings, which resulted in a unique and beautiful style. His paintings are often characterized by their vibrant colors and intricate details, which make them stand out from other natural history illustrations.

Conclusion

Ferdinand Bauer's travels and artistic achievements are a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication. His exquisite watercolor paintings and illustrations of bird species are among the finest examples of natural history illustration. His method of recording colors was innovative and groundbreaking, and his illustrations of bird species are notable for their attention to detail and artistic style. This book provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in natural history illustration or the ornithological and cultural history of birds.

Weight: 1810g
Dimension: 340 x 230 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781851246250