We know Audubon from his many old-fashioned prints of birds, but this book gives us the man behind the art, his times, and as Richard Rhodes' subtitle suggests, how Audubon became the epitome of the optimistic, energetic, adventurous, self-made American. Like any autobiography, this one starts with his parents, his father a French plantation owner in the Caribbean. An illegitimate child, Aububon is sent to France when the plantation system is threatened by a slave uprising. But he soon finds that Revolutionary France is no place for the son of an aristocrat, and he eventually sails to America, and is forever traumatized by the terror, but ultimately finds his destiny.
Early Life of Audubon as Entrepreneur, until Economic Disaster Leads to Failure
Audubon first embarks on a career in business as a merchant. Much of this early history gives more details about his business schemes and practices than personal history, and this theme runs throughout the book, showing how losing everything in the economic crisis of his day made Audubon turn more and more to his artistic pursuit of painting birds. His home-life is depicted as well, and we find that his wife, Lucy, is a headstrong woman, with talents and energies equal to his own, as Aububon is often away from home killing and painting birds while she maintains the household, both physically and economically, by teaching.
Audubon the Explorer and Artist in Wild America
We see how Audubon braves the elements and endures incredible hardships to get his birds. At times we are appalled by how destructive people were back then in their attitude to wildlife and the environment. This was when the forests ran riot with animals, the plains were covered with buffalo, and the skies were black with passenger pigeons. No thought was given to the possibilities of extinction in the face of such profusion.
At one point Audubon tells us that he didn't consider it a good day, "unless I killed at least 100 birds." But then we cannot compare Audubon's values with those of today, before the environmental movement. Photography had not developed to the point where he could paint from photographs. Back then one had to kill or capture a subject in order to produce an accurate rendering. Always improving, we learn how Audubon developed his techniques, from the wired mounting of his birds in life-like poses, to how he employed drawing and painting and combined various mediums to create his life-sized images.
Audubon in the World of the 1800s, a Creative Genius
In going with the theme of the book, "The Making of an American," we are included in many of the historic movements and moments of his day, from the War of 1812, to the Lewis and Clark expedition, to the massive earthquakes that took place in the midwest, as well as the economic and political realities of his day. But mostly we are amazed by Audubon's tenacity, by his energy and ability to endure setbacks and obstacles in order to achieve such a massive body of work. Most impressive is his managerial abilities as he juggles various practical necessities with turning out his huge portfolios, personally marketing and selling them to wealthy and influential clients, and then dealing with all the difficulties of actually getting them professionally printed and distributed, all the while continuing to produce his artistic creations.
Always protective of his secrets, such as his illegitimacy, Audubon sometimes resorted to fabrications to cover them up. For instance, insecure as an artist, he maintained throughout his life that he was trained by the famous European artist, David, which was highly unlikely. In spite of these human foibles, we come to admire Audubon's spirit of adventure, his zeal for his work, and his business sense. An interesting and informative look at the making of an American.
Published by Vintage Books, 438 paperback pages, with many illustrations and 16 of his most famous plates.
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