Tenasserim Kingfisher

John Gould prints bring the jewel-bright birds of the Victorian age into your home: hummingbirds, toucans, trogons, birds of paradise and the kangaroos and mammals of Australia. Gould was the English ornithologist behind some of the most splendid illustrated natural history books ever made, drawn with his wife Elizabeth and artists such as Edward Lear and Joseph Wolf. Our collection of fine art prints draws on these plates.

About John Gould

John Gould was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset, on 14 September 1804, the son of a gardener. He trained as a gardener at Windsor, became an expert taxidermist, and in 1827 was appointed the first curator and preserver of the museum of the Zoological Society of London, which put him in touch with the country's leading naturalists.

From 1830 he published a long series of large bird books. A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains was followed by Birds of Europe and monographs on toucans and trogons. Gould made rough sketches; his wife Elizabeth Gould drew and lithographed many of the plates, and Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf, Henry Constantine Richter and William Matthew Hart also worked for him. In all he published 41 volumes with about 3,000 plates, sold by subscription.

In 1838 the Goulds went to Australia to work on The Birds of Australia. Elizabeth died in 1841, soon after their return. Gould also identified the birds now called Darwin's finches from specimens Charles Darwin brought back on HMS Beagle, a step in the birth of Darwin's theory. He died in London on 3 February 1881.

Style and Subjects

Gould's plates are large, vivid and full of life. Birds perch on branches among flowers and leaves, often in pairs, with the male's brilliant plumage set off against softer foliage. Hand colouring brings out iridescent greens, scarlet breasts and golden throats.

His hummingbird plates are the most dazzling, and his toucans and trogons have bold tropical colour. The Australian mammal plates, showing kangaroos, wallabies and possums, are quieter in tone, with natural browns and greys in simple landscapes.

Famous Works

• A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans. One of his monographs on toucans, with bold, colourful bills.
• A Monograph of the Trogonidae, or Family of Trogons. Glossy green and red trogons perched in the forest.
• The Birds of Australia (1840s). His great seven-volume series, which made him the father of bird study in Australia.
• A Monograph of the Macropodidae, or Family of Kangaroos. Kangaroos and wallabies drawn from his Australian research.
• Docimastes ensiferus (Sword-billed Hummingbird), National Gallery of Art, Washington. A hummingbird with a bill longer than its body.
• The Mammals of Australia. Possums, gliders and other marsupials in natural settings.
• The Birds of New Guinea and the Adjacent Papuan Islands. Birds of paradise and other species from New Guinea.

Decorating with Gould Prints

Gould's hummingbirds and trogons bring jewel-like colour to a living room, dining room or garden room. Hang a pair or a set of four in matching frames, and pick out a wall colour from the plumage, such as deep green or warm cream.

The toucans are cheerful in a kitchen or a child's room, and the Australian mammal plates suit a study, library or hallway with natural wood and earthy tones.

FAQ

Who was John Gould?

John Gould (1804–1881) was an English ornithologist who published large illustrated monographs on birds and mammals. He is considered the father of bird study in Australia.

Did John Gould paint his own plates?

Mostly not. Gould made rough sketches, and artists including his wife Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf, Henry Constantine Richter and William Matthew Hart produced the finished lithographs.

What is Gould's connection to Darwin?

Gould identified the bird specimens Charles Darwin brought back from the Galápagos on HMS Beagle as a group of distinct finches. This helped Darwin develop his theory of evolution.

How many plates did Gould publish?

His books ran to 41 volumes with about 3,000 plates, sold to subscribers in parts.

Which Gould prints are the most colourful?

His hummingbirds, toucans and trogons have the brightest colour, with iridescent greens, reds and golds.

Related Artists

• Elizabeth Gould: his wife, who drew and lithographed many of his plates
• Edward Lear: sold his parrot lithographs to Gould
• Joseph Wolf: animal artist who worked on Gould's books
• John James Audubon: the great American bird painter of the same era
• John Gerrard Keulemans: Victorian bird illustrator in the same tradition