Exhibited at the REACH Museum – March 6 through September 4, 2023
This exhibit featured 92 detailed engravings, chromolithographs, and lithographs from the Lee Silliman Collection, illustrating more than 100 species of North American birds found across the Trans-Mississippi West and Alaska. Subjects included quail, eagles, albatrosses, and a wide variety of other regional birdlife.
The prints showcased the work of 19th-century bird illustrators such as John James Audubon, Robert Ridgeway, John L. Ridgeway, and Titian Ramsey Peale. Each piece reflected the scientific and artistic techniques of its time, with vibrant hand-tinted engravings and richly colored chromolithographs. Many of the backgrounds in the artwork offered subtle suggestions of the bird’s natural habitat.
The engravings were presented in handcrafted Butternut molding, adding to the historical feel of the collection. While the artwork preserved the visual and scientific understanding of its era, visitors were reminded that many species’ common and scientific names have changed over time, particularly with the introduction of DNA-based classification.
This exhibit offered a glimpse into the intersection of ornithology, frontier exploration, and 19th-century artistry in the American West.
