John James Audubon (1785 – 1851) was a noted artist from the 19th century who is best known for his seminal illustrated book titled 'Birds of America'. The iconic book contained 435 gorgeous hand-colored watercolor paintings depicting a wide variety of American bird species.
Interestingly, Audubon wasn't a trained naturalist, but his passionate love for birds made him perfect his art. 'Birds of America' was printed between 1827 and 1838 and included hand-engraved plates from the artist's original watercolor paintings. This book is said to have brought extensive awareness and appreciation for the beauty of birds all over the world. Furthermore, it is also believed to have started off the practice of naturalistic representations of animals in watercolor.
Audubon's paintings include elaborate details of the subject, which made them appear almost life-like. His way of working was unique, too. He used a system of wires and pins to set up each specimen in a life-like posture and then go paint them on paper. When his works were displayed at an exhibition at the New-York Historical Society in 2014, the blurb read: "the watercolors possess a startling immediacy and a freshness that underline his genius in linking natural history and art, as well as a respect for the environment."
Thankfully, all the paintings from Audubon's 'Birds of America' have now been made public in a downloadable digital library, and you can view all the 435 delightful illustrations on the National Audubon Society website. Here, we have presented some of the best works of the artist from his famous book. These are truly magnificent paintings, and lovers of art and nature are sure to be pleased by them.
These Unique Artworks Have More Than One Important Message
The painting seried Brushstoke in Time uses interesting artistic means to convey messages about humanity, time and the enviornment.
Birds Come to Life In These Breathtaking Portraits
Each brushstroke in Rachel Altschuler's acrylic paintings accurately captures the personalities of different birds.
If You Love Nature, Then You've Got to See These Paintings
Enjoy 20 of Ivan Shishkin's most beautiful paintings of woodland scenes. You won't believe that you're actually looking at a painting!
These Were Photographs Before Cameras Were Invented
Watch some rare, unseen watercolors of the old world before the invention of the camera.
10 Brilliantly Detailed Animal Portraits by Sophie Green
Animals are more than creative muse for artist Sophie Green. She uses her brilliant, realistic animal portraits to raise awareness for wildlife conservation.
These Charming Old Paintings are Like a Balm for the Soul
Marvel at some of the finest landscape watercolor paintings by renowned American artist Thomas Moran.
15:12
Life Lessons from Centenarians Who Have Seen it All
What does it really take to live past 100? In this remarkable video, five centenarians open up about what they've learned in a lifetime spanning more than a century.
How Long Does it Take to See Results From Exercises?
To help clarify what realistic progress actually looks like, we spoke with Micky Lal, a public health professional with a master's degree in kinesiology and more than a decade of experience as a clinical health educator. Here's what he wants you to k
5:25
One of the Most Beautiful Sounds You Have Ever Heard
This performance of exquisite musical beauty blew away a cynical audience. First the musician pulls out an odd instrument, then he starts to play ...
3:59
This Orchestral Masterpiece Will Bring Tears to Your Eyes
Watch Plácido Domingo's incredible version of 'Silent Night' that will bring tears to your eyes!
18 Beautiful Mosaics Made Entirely of Pebbles
Justin Bateman recreates famous artworks like the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo's David using only colorful pebbles. Take a look.
8:18
Must See TV: Top 10 Best Shows of 2025
Whether you're looking for your next binge or just want to stay current with the shows everyone's talking about, this top 10 countdown has you covered
5:30
This Sublime Classical Performance Will Take You to Heaven
This beautiful video celebrates two wonderful musicians together, one on cello and the other on the violin. Here they play Czardas.
The Detail in This Artist’s Sculptures Left Me Speechless
You can't ignore the magnificent works of Yuanxing Liang, the impressive Chinese artist who manages to convey emotions with his clay sculptures ...
Dreamy 3D Landscapes Inspired by Impressionist Art
This artist creates fluid 3D landscapes reminiscent of the works of famous Impressionists.
24:57
Andrea Bocelli’s Easter Performance Should NOT be Missed
To lift people’s hearts this strange Easter, Italian music icon Andrea Bocelli gave a performance at Milan’s Duomo cathedral on Easter Sunday
These Gorgeous Paintings Are the Soul of the Victorian Era
The Pre-Raphaelites were a close-knit group of Victorian painters who shared big ideas about art and literature. Here are 18 of their greatest works.
6:21
André Rieu In Another Beautiful Operatic Sensation!
In this video, we are treated to an incredible rendition of Caro Nome by an incredibly skilled operatic singer.
These Gorgeous, Classic Paintings Will Leave You in Awe
J.M.W. Turner is perhaps one of the most well-known British artists ever. When you feast your eyes on 10 of his most famous paintings, you'll understand why.
The Unbelievable Embroidery Skills of 10 Talented Artists
Some would call embroidery a lost art, but the incredible works of these contemporary embroidery artists sure prove otherwise.
5:44
This Performer Can Do ANYTHING While on a Bike
The acrobat you see here is Viola Brand – a bicycle artist who can do almost anything on two wheels.
4:27
‘My Heart Will Go On’ by This Violinist Will Amaze You!
Seeing talented children is always inspiring, and 11-year-old Karolina Protsenko is a true prodigy. Watch her perform Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On'.
The Silent Power of Monochrome Sculptures (16 Pics)
These beautiful monochrome sculptures by Hans Op De Beeck capture moments of quiet contemplation.
Here Are the Absolute Best Flower Paintings Ever Created
Flower painting has a long history in fine art. To see the highlights of this genre, read this article about world-famous floral still lifes.
4:11
Watch This Young Singer Completely Nail 'O Sole Mio'
Watch the young and incredibly talented Amira Willighagen performing the classic song, 'O Sole Mio' alongside the legendary Patrizio Buanne.
5:07
This Orchestra is Like Nothing You've Seen Before...
Presenting you The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, as they play one timeless and unexpected soundtrack. Give them a listen!
This Animal Art Is Made Entirely Out of Flowers
This artist uses flowers as his tool and bugs as his inspiration.
3:46
Watch Andre Rieu Masterfully Perform 'The Last Rose'
Watch Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra masterfully perform their version of 'The Last Rose' while they were touring the Netherlands.
18:12
Joshua Bell Shows You 300 Years of Music in 18 Minutes!
Discover why this timeless art form continues to resonate and inspire across generations.
6:18
These Human Voices Alone Resurrect a Totemic Rock Classic
Toto's Africa is one of my favorite songs. So I was thrilled to hear this stunning a cappella version ...
The Wonders of Nature and Space Combined in Stunning Art
These realistic embroideries are like a little window into a parallel universe!
6:28
Astounding Dancers: Martin and Marielle!
One of the best dance acts we've seen on Britain's Got Talent, watch how Martin throws Marielle around like a rag doll in this incredible routine!
The 7 Best Dutch Artists You Might Not Have Heard Of
Noteworthy Dutch Painters of the Late Renaissance and Baroque
4:57
Enjoy a Unique And Funny Performance By Dean Martin
In this fun concert, the incredibly talented member of the Rat Pack, Dean Martin, starts his performance of the classic song "Everybody Loves Somebody", with a little taste of his stand up routine.
4:29
Watch Swan Lake Like You Have Never Seen it Before!
Wow, these ballet dancers are so good that they'll take your breath away. Check them out!
3:17
What a Spectacular Performance by 2 Classic Greats!
An exciting performance by two classic greats - Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye!
4:10
This Country Music Collaboration Will Blow You Away!
This collaboration of country singers past and present will astound you! This one should definitely not be missed!
MUSIC BOX: 20 legendary Bruce Springsteen Hits
Here 20 of Springsteen's greatest and most popular rock 'n' roll anthems. Roll back the years and sing along with The Boss himself.
4:33
Watch Evgeny Kissin Give New Life to "La Campanella"
Watch pianist Evgeny Kissin play "La Campanella" at The Royal Albert Hall, London, in August 1997.
Hark Back to Old Paris WIth These Beautiful Paintings
The Paris of yesteryear was an incredibly beautiful place. It still is today, but times were different back then. Take a look at these beautiful old paintings.
5:44
One Singer, Two Completely Different Voices!
Watch this incredible singer added a new stunt to the world of singing, and it's pretty incredible.
Music Box: Enjoy 20 Classic Female French Songs
From "Ella Elle L'a" by France Gall to "Paroles Paroles" by the legendary Dalida, listen to 20 huge hits by the greatest French female singers of all time.
7:23
Some Choirs Know How to Enchant the World With Their Music
You cannot watch this without smiling...
5:26
Outrageously Amazing Performance by Justin Flom!
Magician Justin Flom stuns the judges and audience of The World's Best with a bloody but brilliant performance.
6:03
If You Like Clint Eastwood, You'll Love This Performance
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra create a fantastic experience with their performance of the song from the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Well-Timed Photos That Prove Coincidences are Real
Perfect-timing is the name of the game for these photographers, who captured these moments just in the nick of time.
This is What Roman Sculptures REALLY Looked Like...
We are so used to seeing classical sculptures as they have come down to us - but in fact they were originally painted. Look at these gorgeous reconstructions!
4:02
Listen to This Stunning Rendition of a Christmas Classic
Pentatonix is an acapella group that is known throughout the world for its members' singing ability. Listen to them perform a Christmas classic in this video.
To enable your Ad-Free Subscription, please fill the fields below
Your subscription was successful, now you can enjoy an ad-free experience!! Note: To make sure you get no ads, please make sure to log in to your account. If you are logged in already, then refresh the page. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
