John Gould Australian Hapalotis Mitchellii, Mitchell's Hopping Mouse, c1863
by Gould, John
John Gould Marsupial Mouse with Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos). Now classified as Notomys mitchellii.
Original hand-coloured lithograph by Henry Constantine Richter (1821-1902) after John Gould (1804-1881), for Mammals of Australia published in London between 1845 and 1863 by John Gould. There were only 175 individually hand-coloured lithographs of each of the 182 different studies of Australian mammals by John Gould. Gould devoted the last 50 years of his life to illustrating the birds of the world. Gould wrote that "It was not until I arrived in the country, and found myself surrounded by objects as strange as if I had been transported to another planet, that I conceived the idea of devoting a portion of my attention to the mammalian class of its extraordinary fauna."
Gould sketched both mammals and birds in their habitats. He was greatly assisted by his wife Elizabeth Gould (1804-1841), who had been taught lithography by Edward Lear who, since the age of 16, was an artist at the Zoological Gardens in London where John Gould was head keeper and preserver of fauna. Elizabeth Gould remained in Tasmania with their oldest son and refined her husband's sketches for lithographs that were made after their return to England so that these wonderful illustrations could be shared with the world.
In fine condition, with accompanying descriptive text, this lovely hand-coloured lithograph is full size as issued, 37 x 53cm (14.5 x 21 inches).
Stock Number: apJGm139Price: $2,950.00