John James Audubon, from "The Gallery of Illustrious Americans"
Not on view
This image of the leading naturalist best known for "The Birds of America" (1827–38) appeared in an 1850 volume of lithographs based on daguerrotypes by Mathew B. Brady. The preface declares that the "gallery" was intended to present "American citizens, who ... have rendered the most signal services to the Nation, since the death of the Father of the Republic...comprehensive in its spirit...it is hoped that it may ... bind the Union still more firmly together." Five years before, Brady had determined to take images of leading Americans of his day to preserve their appearance for posterity. Unfortunately, prohibitive costs limited his project to a single volume containing twelve portraits.
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