Please check back for brief listings on some of our favourite British Illustrators
NATURAL HISTORY
Donovan, Edward O. (1768-1837) Edward Donovan, a member of the Linnean Society, was a prodigious author and illustrator of books on a wide diversity of natural history topics (including insects, shells, birds and flowers), who personally undertook all steps of the illustration process for his books: the drawing, the etching and engraving and the handcoloring. The fineness of his engraving and etching often gives his illustrations the appearance of being watercolors. For much of his life a wealthy man (although he died in poverty), he operated the London Museum and Institute of Natural History where he displayed his fine collection of specimens of birds, insects etc.
Reference: Jackson, Christine E.
Bird Etchings. The Illustrators and Their Books, 1655-1855. Cornell University Press, Ithaca: 1985.
View examples of Donovan's bird illustrations in our galleries; we also have examples of his exquisite engravings of insects - please enquire.
A selection of books illustrated by Edward Donovan:
The Natural History of British Birds; or, a Selection of the most Rare, Beautiful, and Interesting Birds which inhabit this country… 10 volumes with a total of 244 plates, London, 1794-1819.
The Naturalist’s Repository, or Miscellany of exotic Natural History Exhibiting Rare and Beautiful Specimens of Foreign Brids, Insects, Shells, Quadrupeds, Fish and Marine Productions. 5 volumes with a total of 180 plates, London: 1822-1827.
The Natural History of British Insects; explaining them in their several states, with the periods of their transformations, their food, economy, &c. 16 volumes, London: 1793-1813.
The Natural History of British Shells, including Figures and Descriptions of all the Species Hitherto Discovered in Great Britain, Systematically Arranged in the Linnean Manner, with Scientific and General Observations on Each. 5 volumes.
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Gould, John (1804-1881) John Gould, “the Bird Man,” was responsible for the publication of some 41 folio size volumes with a total of 2999 handcolored lithographs of birds plus two folio volumes of the kangaroos and mammals of Australia, all remarkable works of scientific accuracy and understated artistic quality. A naturalist and taxidermist, he also turned out to be a natural entrepreneur. With no previous experience in the publishing field, he had 298 wealthy subscribers to his first publication A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains, for which his wife Elizabeth Gould drew and lithographed the plates. These elaborate color plate books were produced in very limited numbers and were correspondingly expensive. Other artists who collaborated with Gould include Edward Lear, Henry Constantine Richter (who first worked with Gould completing the plates for The Birds of Australia on the death of Elizabeth Gould) and the ornithological painter Joseph Wolf. His pioneering work as a naturalist was recognized with his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1843.
Reference: Lambourne, Maureen (introduction)
John Gould's Birds. Chartwell Books, New Jersey: 1981.
View examples of the ornithological lithographs published by John Gould.
A Selection of John Gould’s published works:
A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains (1831-1832) Illustrated by Elizabeth Gould from drawings by John Gould.
The Birds of Europe (1832–1837) Illustrated by Elizabeth Gould and Edward Lear from sketches by John Gould.
A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans (1834-1835 with a supplement in 1855; second edition 1854). Illustrated by Elizabeth Gould, John Gould, Edward Lear, H.C. Richter, Georg Scharf.
A Monograph of the Trogonidae, or Family of Trogons (1838, with a second expanded edition 1858-1875). Illustrated by Elizabeth Gould, John Gould, Edward Lear.
The Birds of Australia (1840–1848) Illustrated by Elizabeth Gould, John Gould, H.C. Richter.
The Mammals of Australia (1845–1863) Illustrated by John Gould, H.C. Richter, Joseph Wolf.
A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-birds (1849-1861, Supplement 1880-1887). Illustrated by John Gould, William Hart, H.C.Richter.
The Birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia (1875-1888) Illustrated by John Gould and William Hart.
