John Gould Acanthiza Nana, Little Acanthiza (Yellow Thornbill).

by Gould, John

Gorgeous tiny Thornbills dwarfed by large Banksia flower! 

Lansdowne reproduction print, from a hand-coloured lithograph by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter for The Birds of Australia by John Gould, originally published in London between 1840 and 1848.

Known as 'the Bird Man', John Gould (1804-1881) was a naturalist whose passion was the field of ornithology. Gould obtained subscribers to finance his superb publications on the birds of different regions of the world. Assisted by his artist wife, Elizabeth Gould (1804-1841) who refined her husband's sketches of the birds in their habitats, Gould employed the finest bird lithographers - including his wife who also completed 600 lithographs after being trained by the great bird artist, Edward Lear. Elizabeth died after the birth of their eighth child after their return to England from Australia. The illustrations of Australian birds are some of the finest ever done.

In good condition as printed, approximately 53 x 35cm (21 x 14 inches). The paper is not as thick as the original lithographs were, and the ink colours do not have the same longevity as early colour, so we recommend framing with conservation material and U/V protective glass.