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Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks)
John James Audubon, c. 1827
This is a vigorous painting of two peregrine falcons with fresh duck prey. The Cleveland Museum of Art relates it to Audubon's Birds of America, which sought to show every native North American bird in action, with elements of its habitat.
Audubon became the leading naturalist in the United States on the strength of his artistic and scientific work, and after his death he was linked with the conservation of birds and nature, with several societies named after him. The museum also notes that, as more has become known about his slaveholding and his looting of Indigenous graves, his legacy is viewed more critically.
The painting is about 65 by 92 centimetres without its frame, and was made around 1827.
From the museum record
| Artist | John James Audubon |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1827 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Size | Unframed: 64.5 x 91.5 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Gift of the American Foundation for the Maud E. and Warren H. Corning Botanical Collection |
| Accession number | 1964.351 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
