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John James Audubon, Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Havell plate no. 78, 1822. Image courtesy New-York Historical Society
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The New-York Historical Society houses the original watercolor paintings by John James Audubon made in preparation for his epic Birds of America. Since the spring of 2009, the bulk of these watercolors have been in long-term storage as they await restoration and conservation work. Most won’t be on display again until 2013. But despair not! A small handful of these watercolors will be on display in rotation at the Luce Center. The Luce Center is located on the entire fourth floor in the Historical Society. The innovative Luce Center safely houses and makes accessible more than 40,000 objects previously in offsite storage.
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John James Audubon, Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus), Havell plate no. 30, 1812. Image Courtesy New-York Historical Society
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From December 14, 2009-March 30, 2010, you can spot nine of these original watercolors in an exhibit entitled “Unsung Songsters.” The nine birds depicted in this exhibit are all songbirds (members of the order Passeriformes) and while none of them are “blockbusters” like his portraits of egrets or more colorful members of the songbird group, they are each subtle masterpieces. John James Audubon was an astute observer of bird behavior, and these watercolors capture the lively character of the species they portray. Also worth a second glance are the background details of plants and insects, painted by Audubon’s collaborators, Maria Martin and Joseph Mason.
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Hours & Admission
Adult: $12, Senior/Student: $9
Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm
Friday, 10am - 8pm (Pay what you wish between 6-8pm)
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5:45pm
Monday CLOSED
For more information and Holiday closings visit The N-Y Historical Society's website
The N-Y Historical Soceity is located at
170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th Street
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