Jacques Barraband (1767-1809)

Jacques Barraband emerged as one of the worlds most revered ornithological

engravers in France during the 18th century “Age of Enlightenment”. Napoleon

Bonaparte commissioned a large series of Barraband’s bird and flower

illustrations. Barraband also produced many of his most well known

illustrations for the naturalist Francois Le Vaillant’s scientific studies on parrots

(perroquets), birds of paradise (oiseaux de paradis), rollers (rolliers), toucans

(toucans), and other exotic birds.

Barraband’s prints of birds remain among the most life-like and represent a high

point in the history of ornithological art. Barraband collaborated with Louis

Bouquet and Langlois to create the engravings used to make his luminous prints.

Each engraving plate was inked “a la poupée” (a process in which several of the

same plates are applied with different ink colors and carefully applied one over

the other then pulled from the press.) Barraband – known for his brilliant

rendering skills – finished each print by adding all tonalities and shading by

hand.

The Chicago Field Museum produced an exclusive limited edition collection of

Baraband’s bird prints. We are thrilled to offer a beautiful selection of

Barraband's most important images from this first edition Field Museum

Collection. Every print is hand embossed with The Field Museum logo (and that

of Oppenheimer Editions, the publisher, and also numbered and stamped with

the signature of the president of the Museum. Each actual-size print is on

Hahnemühle acid-free, cotton rag fine art paper imported from Germany.

Dimensions: Range between 14”x21.5” and 12”x21.5”

Price Range: $400-$800