John Gould Australian Thornbills, Acanthiza Inornata. Reproduction print.

by Gould, John

John Gould print. Western Thornbill from south-western Australia.

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.

Passionate about birds, John Gould (1804-1881), was known as 'the Bird Man'. In Australia, the Gould League of Bird Lovers was named in his honour in 1909. Gould obtained subscribers to finance his grand publications on the birds of different regions of the world, which were illustrated with large hand-coloured lithographs by eminent artists - closely supervised by Gould.

Gould was assisted by his artist wife, Elizabeth Gould (1804-1841), who refined many of her husband's sketches of the birds in their habitats for lithographs to be made for publication of prints in London. After being taught lithography by scientific artist, Edward Lear, who worked with Gould at the British Museum, Elizabeth Gould also did over 600 lithographs for her husband's publications. Elizabeth died after the birth of their eighth child following their return to England from Australia. Gould illustrations are some of the finest ever done of Australian birds.

In good condition, the print size is 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.