On view at Old St. Augustine Village Spear House Gallery April 18th through May 30th will be a newly installed exhibit of bird prints, paintings, and porcelain figures. Included in this extraordinary exhibit will be eight famous John James Audubon prints dating 1827 to 1832 and the exquisite portrait of John James Audubon, painted by N. B. Wilcox!

Kenneth Worcester Dow collected these exquisite bird prints and watercolors throughout his lifetime. Today, the beautiful birds have come back from the Museum of Arts and Sciences to The Old St. Augustine Village where Kenneth had lived with his collections for more than 50 years.

Audubon was born in Haiti in 1785, raised in France, and at age 18, sent to America to escape conscription into Napoleons’ army. Soon he was painting birds as a hobby and amassing an impressive portfolio. Shortly after 1819, when the wilderness was limitless and beguiling, he set off on his epic quest down the mighty Mississippi River to depict Americas “avifauna”. In 1831 and 1832 he traveled through St. Augustine Florida, painting local herons, spoonbills and such, some of these paintings reveal St. Augustine's ancient scenery in the background. His life size, highly dramatic bird portraits, and elaborate descriptions of wilderness life were literally an over night success.

But wait, there’s more!

Seven original watercolor paintings of birds by French artist Paul Louis Oudart painted in 1820.

One beautiful engraving by American artist Titian Ramsey Peal of Philadelphia dated 1840. Ramsey Peal was selected as naturalist and artist on the last all-sail circumnavigation of the world, the “South Seas Exploration Expedition”, otherwise known as the Ex. Ex. This ambitious expedition collected 2,150 birds and a multitude of exquisite drawings and paintings. This young nation's inadequate museum storage helped promote the creation of a national museum, the Smithsonian Institution.

We will also be exhibiting one breathtaking bird painting by French artist A. Prevost. Provost was selected as painter on the “Louis de Freycinet Expedition” in 1817. This expedition brought thousands of flora and fauna specimens to France. Although Freycinet lost his ship off the Falkland Islands the collections, drawings and paintings were saved

But wait there’s even more!

A gratefully received gift of porcelain Beohm Birds from the Vero Beach Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Daugherty, and Troy and Betty Bivings. Beohm Birds! In the 1960s and 1970s Edward Marshall Boehm created fine hand painted porcelain figures with remarkable detailing. Old St. Augustine Village will have, for this exhibit only, 5 Boehm Birds, Wrens, Warblers, Kingfishers and more!

The exhibit will open in the Spear House Gallery at the Old St. Augustine Village on Tuesday April 18th.

The grand opening will be on First Friday, May 5th at 5P.M. with music and light refreshments. To add to the excitement, “Village People” membership to the Old St. Augustine Village Museum will be available for purchase. This membership will grant you free anytime access to our beautiful and tranquil site. Become a “Village Person” today! Corner of Bridge and Cordova Streets in St. Augustine Florida. 904-823-9722

This event is sponsored by The Florida East Coast Railway.