Photograph of John James Audubon by Matthew
   Brady, circa 1860 to 1865 (color version © Pixel
   Paradox).

The Audubon Close Up screensavers series is designed to reproduce, for you, the exhilaration we experienced when we viewed an original first edition set of John James Audubon's Birds of America in bound folio format. The double-elephant sheets measure 29 by 39 inches. The exquisite detail of the engraving, coloring and design can only be appreciated when you can move your eye around the plate to see the hundreds of tiny details that Audubon and the engravers, Robert Havell and Sons, included.

Audubon drew the birds from life during his years of exploring the American Wilderness. He took many specimens, as well. He then produced large watercolors that show the birds lifesized and in detail. These watercolors formed the basis for the famous plates engraved for Audubon by Havell. Some plate compositions were recomposed by Audubon and differ from the original watercolors. The Watercolors are now in the New York Historical Society Museum Collection.

Photograph of President Truman at the White House
   accepting ten paintings by John J. Audubon, a gift to the
   United States from Australian philanthropist E. J. Hallstrom.,
   07/18/1951

In the drawings and plates Audubon has captured his first-hand knowledge of the action and drama of the birds in their natural settings, including native foliage, local landscapes and other animals. The engravers and colorists worked under his direct supervision to reproduce the intricate detail, feather patterns and color of his watercolors.

It is these details that can only be appreciated by moving closer to the plate and focusing on the spider in the corner, the claw of a sparrow, or the tiny trees in the miniature landscape that forms the background.

Details from 57 plates are used in this unique Audubon Close Up series of screensavers. They are as follows:

Plate No

1
311
316
321
31
411
431
11

Name

Great American Cock
American White Pelican
Black Bellied Darter
Roseate Spoonbill
White-headed Eagle
Common American Swan
Flamingo
Bird of Washington or Great American Sea Eagle

Plate No

386
81
51
16
72
36
76
366

Name

White Heron
Fish Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great-footed Hawk
Swallow-tailed Hawk
Stanley Hawk
Virginia Partridge and Red-shouldered Buzzard
366 Iceland or Jer Falcon

Plate No
327
62
82
52
27
21
42
22
349
12

Name

Shoveller Duck
Passenger Pigeon
Whip-poor-will
Chuck Will's Widow
Red-headed Woodpecker
Mocking Bird
Orchard Oriole
Purple Martin
Least Water-hen
Baltimore Oriole

Plate No
89
87
367
94
411
33
44
17
15
47
32
30
13
5
20

Name

Nashville Warbler
Florida Jay
Band-tailed Pigeon
Bay-winged Bunting
Common American Swan
Yellow Bird
Summer Red Bird
Carolina Turtle Dove or Carolina Pigeon
Blue Yellow-back Warbler
Ruby-throated Humming Bird
Black-billed Cuckoo
Vigor's Warbler
Snow Bird
Bonaparte Flycatcher
Blue-winged Yellow Warbler

Plate No
387
333
336
61
309
307
56
46
96

Name

Glossy Ibis
Green-backed Heron
Yellow-crowned Heron
Great-horned Owl
Great Tern
Blue Crane or Heron
Red-shouldered Hawk
Barred Owl
Columbia Jay

Plate No

7
77
40
362
354
26
43
66

Name

Purple Grackle
Belted Kingfisher
American Redstart
Ultramarine Jay, Stellar's Jay, Yellow-billed Magpie, and Clark's Crow
Louisiana Tanager and Black-winged Red-bird
Carolina Parrot
Cedar Bird
Ivory-billed Woodpecker