Fenwick Lansdowne has the exceptional ability to capture such moments with a seemingly effortless assurance, but which can only come from intimate knowledge, immense care, and remarkable talent. Prince Philip 

{HISTORY}

Often compared to John James Audubon as far as talent and execution, the bird portraits of Canadian artist, James Fenwick Lansdowne (1937-2008) are exquisitely detailed works of art full of personality, color and character. 

A natural-born artist since childhood, Fen, as he was called, was self-taught, encouraged in his early years by his mother,  who was also a painter.  After becoming enchanted with birds as a boy watching them float and flutter outside his bedroom window, Fen took pen to paper and turned his passion for birds into a lifelong career celebrated the world over. He first exhibited his work to great acclaim in galleries as a young teen and was advised to never take a formal art class for fear that it would ruin his natural talent.

Always the pride of Canada and the most well-renowned bird artist of the 20th century, Fen's paintings hang in significant galleries, museums and private collections around the world including the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, the Kennedy Galleries in New York, London's Tyron Gallery and the private collection of the British Royal Family.  

In 1968, Fen teamed up with naturalist, broadcaster and writer John Livingston (1923-2006) to produce a two-volume guide to birds of the Eastern forest found in Canada and the United States.  Presented here is Volume 1 which includes eighteen waterfowl and shore birds, ten birds of prey, five woodpeckers, five swallows, four flycatchers and ten other assorted birds all naturally found in this region. Containing 52 color plates and their corresponding preliminary sketches, each executed by Fen, alongside captivating ornithological information provided by John, this book is a beauty in both content and presentation. Each description contains interesting fun facts, history, observations and habitat details, along with the geographical location where each of the bird portraits was painted. 

A lovely addition to any birder's library this book will appeal to artists just as much as nature lovers. It's a unique treat to see how Fen developed each portrait from it's initial sketch to its final presentation. 

The last set of images feature portraits of John A Livingston (left) and James Fenwick Lansdowne (right)

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- First Edition

- Published in 1968 by Houghton Mifflin 

- Printed in Italy

- 232 pages

- Oversized for coffee-table display, it features the pileated woodpecker on both the front and back of the dust jacket and is encased in a mylar cover for added protection.

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. There is some light tanning to the dust jacket on front which has created a sort of square shape in the center. the blue overboard also bears some fading along the top edge and the interior pages are starting to lightly tan at the edges giving each portrait a slight vignette. the interior is very clean and bright and all the bird portraits are clear and crisp in detail. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 13.5" inches (length) x 10.5" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 4lbs.