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Artwork Page for Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks)

Details / Information for Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks)

Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks)

c. 1827
(American, 1785–1851)
America
oil on canvas
Framed: 74.9 x 101 x 10.2 cm (29 1/2 x 39 3/4 x 4 in.); Unframed: 64.5 x 91.5 cm (25 3/8 x 36 in.)
Gift of the American Foundation for the Maud E. and Warren H. Corning Botanical Collection 1964.351
Location: 205 Federal American
Public Domain
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Did You Know?

Clocked at speeds more than 240 mph, peregrine falcons are the world's fastest animals.

Description

A vigorous portrayal of two peregrine falcons with their fresh duck prey, John James Audubon's painting relates to his groundbreaking Birds of America publication that sought to depict every species of native North American bird posed in action with elements of their habitats. Based on his artistic and scientific successes, Audubon became the premier naturalist in the United States. After his death, he continued to be associated with bird and nature conservation, and several organizations devoted to such causes were named in his honor. However, in recent years, as Audubon's slaveholding and looting of Indigenous graves has become more widely acknowledged, an increasing number of these groups are changing their names.
A realistic portrayal of two, brown-feathered peregrine falcons facing each other on a rocky outcropping that slopes up from the lower left corner of the painting, a light grey-blue sky behind them. The left falcon pins a duck under its left talon, wings flapping and open beak turned towards us. Seen from the side, the right falcon's wings are folded as it leans down, talons pinning another duck and blood dripping from its open beak.

Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks)

c. 1827

John James Audubon

(American, 1785–1851)
America

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