The lovely Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin has an equally stunning array of bird imagery from some of American’s greatest creators during a current exhibition. Who can you expect to see?
Albert Bierstadt, N.C. and Andrew Wyeth, John James Audubon, and Frank W. Benson are only a few of the major artists currently featured at the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. “Audubon to Wyeth: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculptures” is exactly what visitors can expect within the exhibition.
Jasper Cropsey, “Hazy Afternoon, Autumn,” 1873, oil on canvas, (c) Woodson Art Museum 2016
Of particular note is Audubon’s “Pacific Loon (Black-throated Diver),” circa 1834. As one might anticipate, the picture displays an amazing degree of accuracy and precision. Comfortably nestled among the reeds, a pair of Pacific loons confidently pose for the viewer. A key identifying feature, the subjects’ blood-red eyes, capture one’s gaze immediately and fill the picture with life. Making this equally unique among Audubon’s pictures is its technique: oil on canvas. Audubon was known for his production of lithographs for his “Birds of America” series; “Pacific Loon (Black-throated Diver)” is a rare example of the artist’s painterly touch.
Martin Johnson Heade, “Two Hooded Visorbearer Hummingbirds,” ca. 1864-1865, oil on canvas,
(c) Woodson Art Museum 2016
To learn more, visit the Woodson Art Museum.
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