Wild Turkey Cock, Hen and Young

Artist John James Audubon (1785 - 1851)

Date1826

MediumOil on linen

Dimensions47 1/2 × 59 1/2 in. (120.7 × 151.1 cm)
Framed: 54 1/2 × 66 1/8 × 3 7/8 in.

ClassificationsPainting

Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2013.44

Accession number 2013.44

On View

On view

Collections

Fall

Provenancegiven to the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1826; to Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1858 - 2011; to (Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, NY), by 2013; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2013
Label TextWild Turkey Cock, Hen and Young is one of the first oil paintings John James Audubon created in relation to his famous publication Birds of America (1827-1838). The birds are set in an idealized scene, but in reality, native populations of turkeys were starting to decline. As settlers continued to clear lands and move westward, they left little habitat or food for the birds. With no regulations on hunting, the wild turkey was lost from 18 of its original 39 states by 1920.

Pavo salvaje, hembra y cría es una de las primeras pinturas al óleo que John James Audubon creó en relación con su famosa publicación Aves de Norteamérica (1827-1838). Las aves están puestas en una escena idealizada cuando, en realidad, las poblaciones nativas de pavos empezaban a disminuir. Conforme los colonos siguieron arrasando tierras y desplazándose hacia el oeste, poco hábitat y alimento iba quedando para estas aves. Sin normas de cacería, el pavo salvaje desapareció de 18 de los 39 estados donde originalmente habitaba para 1920.