Black Grouse

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TitleBlack Grouse

Attributed Artist John James Audubon (American, 1785 - 1851)

Date1826-1829

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed: 25 × 30 1/4 in. Framed: 28 3/4 × 33 3/4 × 2 1/4 in.

Credit LineNational Academy of Design, New York, NY

Object number38-P

Label TextAlthough Audubon is particularly noted for his command of the watercolor medium, as demonstrated in his paintings of American birds, he had received early instruction in oil painting from an itinerant portrait painter. He rarely used the medium before arriving in Europe in 1826, but while living in London and Edinburgh he began producing numerous oils in order to support himself. In 1827 he wrote to his wife:
[block quote:]
I do anything for money now a days-I positively last week made 22 pounds 10 schilling by drawing Grouses in a Scotch Lady's Album. That enabled me to purchase 6 gilt frames to forward 6 pictures to the Liverpool exhibition.-I painted these since I came to London in oil-one of Duck-one of Rab[b]its.-one of Common fowls, one of Pigeons, one of Partridges, one of an Otter-all measuring 42. inches by 28.-My prices for them are from 20 to 30 guineas each according to the diferences of value judged by myself and some friends of mine-if I sell them it will put me quite afloat and at my ease I will begin as soon as time will permit 2 very large pictures of Peacocks and Turkeys, for the spring London exhibition so as to have my name cracked up here as well as in Edinburgh.
[End of block quote]
The black grouse (also known as the common, or heath grouse), was one of the most popular game birds in Britain. Audubon apparently capitalized on its popularity by frequently depicting it in paintings. Another oil painting of black grouse, which is signed and dated 1827, is in the collection of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University. Like the Academy's painting, it appears weak as compared with Audubon's watercolors and shows that he never completely mastered the oil medium.
As neither the history of this painting nor its coming into the Academy's possession is recorded, its attribution must be left open to question. Audubon showed a painting of grouse at the Academy's annual exhibition of 1833, at the same time he was elected an Honorary Member. However, as an Honorary Member Audubon was not required or expected to present an example of his work to the Academy. No work by him is included in the property listings of 1843 or 1852; the painting had certainly been acquired by 1911, when it was listed as A Study in the published checklist of the collection. Both of Audubon's sons were members of the Academy: John Woodhouse Audubon, who also worked with oils and occasionally painted European birds, was an Associate; but only Victor Gifford Audubon was elected an Academician. His qualifying work securing that election was accepted by the Council on February 22, 1847, and a Landscape by Victor is included in the 1852 listing as his "Academic presentation"; no work by him is included in the 1911 catalogue. It also might be significant that the senior Audubon lived in New York at the time of his death, which came during the period when his sons were active in the Academy.

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