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Blue Jay. Corvus cristatus [current name: Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata], printing plate for "The Birds of America," 1827–38, plate CII

After John James Audubon American, born Haiti
Etcher Etched and aquatinted Robert Havell Jr. American, born England
1827–38
Not on view
This etched copper printing plate comes from a group of 435, begun in Edinburgh by William Home Lizars in the fall of 1826 and completed in London by Robert Havell, Jr. by June 20, 1838. Audubon had them shipped to America in 1839, stored in a New York City warehouse, then moved to a vault on his property in Upper Manhattan by 1852. After the artist's death, the plates eventually became the property of a mining and metal business, Phelps, Dodge & Co., and this example was later owned by Alonzo Plumb Boardman, Sr., of Augusta, Georgia, who gave it to the Museum in 1961.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Blue Jay. Corvus cristatus [current name: Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata], printing plate for "The Birds of America," 1827–38, plate CII
  • Series/Portfolio: Birds of America, plate CII
  • Artist: After John James Audubon (American (born Haiti), Les Cayes (Saint-Domingue) 1785–1851 New York)
  • Etcher: Etched and aquatinted Robert Havell Jr. (American (born England), Reading 1793–1878 Tarrytown, New York)
  • Date: 1827–38
  • Medium: Printing plate: etching and aquatint on copper, nickel plated and filled with brass paint
  • Dimensions: plate: 26 7/16 x 21 1/16 in. (67.2 x 53.5 cm)
  • Classification: Plates
  • Credit Line: Gift of Alonzo P. Boardman, 1961
  • Object Number: 61.679.1
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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