My Very Own 'Happyland'

Before I begin this post, I would like to thank Ron, at the Uptown Acorn, for his blessing in allowing me to almost copy a similar post on his blog recently!  Thank you, Ron!

Most of you will, no doubt, be familiar with John James Audubon who was and is known world wide for his fabulous drawings and etchings of the fabulous Birds of  America.  He spent some time north of us in St. Francisville, LA, which he lovingly called "Happyland."  He produced a number of  drawings there while serving as a tutor to the daughter of a very prosperous resident.

Californian Partridge

I have been enchanted by his work for a very long time, and have quite a few hanging in our home in Louisiana.  

Did you know that, in addition to his well known birds, Audubon also drew a variety of other animals found in North America?  

Brown or Norway Rat

Black Rat

Little Harvest Mouse

Common Mouse

The picture above is of the common mouse with a block of cheese and a ginger jar.  This is one of the few times that Audubon included an inanimate object.  It's hard to find.

There are number of different editions that have been authorized throughout the years; certainly I do not own ANY of the first editions of the large sizes, but I do have a number of first editions of the octavo size (these are not expensive!):

They're even in the bathroom!

And I love the puffins, but they desperately need to be re-framed.

And for my ever wishful thinking, there are the books:

Same bird (carrier pigeon); different book.

Many libraries and museums around the country have collections of these fabulous masterpieces.  I hope you enjoyed seeing them!

Masterpiece Monday

Seasonal Sundays