{"id":871,"date":"2012-09-24T08:55:23","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T12:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=871"},"modified":"2012-09-24T08:55:23","modified_gmt":"2012-09-24T12:55:23","slug":"rare-book-on-display","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/rare-book-on-display\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare Book on Display"},"content":{"rendered":"

News from Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A rare 19th-century book, with stunning illustrations and a dramatic history, was donated to the Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center in June, and now the exhibition Nests, Eggs, Heartbreak & Beauty<\/em><\/strong> (September 30 – January 13) has been organized around it.<\/p>\n

Though the historic volume bears a dry, unwieldy title (Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio),<\/em>\u00a0it’s a compelling blend of ornithological observation and artistry, and its creation was a triumph of love through adversity.<\/p>\n

In 1876, 29-year-old amateur artist and naturalist Genevieve Jones saw John J. Audubon\u2019s Birds of America<\/em> at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and conceived the idea for a companion publication\u2014of similarly high quality\u2014to depict the nests and eggs of American birds. Her father, who had forbidden her to marry the man she loved, financed the project to provide her a distraction from heartbreak.<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 brother Howard collected the nests and wrote the text, and she learned to draw on lithographic stones to create the printed images (which would later be colored by hand). After completing only five drawings, Genevieve died of typhoid fever, and her grieving family determined to finish the book, with her mother taking the role of artist.<\/p>\n

Only 90 copies of the book were printed, and fewer than 25 are known to exist today. Mass Audubon\u2019s copy, which belonged to Howard Jones, is considered the most significant because its color plates served as the patterns for other copies, and it includes a unique gilt title-page and important manuscript material.<\/p>\n

In 1878, Harvard ornithologist William Brewster, who would later be Mass Audubon\u2019s first president, described one of Jones\u2019 drawings as \u201cin its kind a perfect masterpiece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nests, Eggs, Heartbreak & Beauty will open on\u00a0Sunday, September 30\u00a0at the Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center in Canton.\u00a0<\/strong>The exhibition opening will be celebrated by a reception with light refreshments from 1 to 5 pm.\u00a0Joy Kiser, whose research uncovered the story behind this remarkable volume, will be at the reception, signing copies of her new book America\u2019s Other Audubon<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Image: <\/em>Field Sparrow\u00a0by Virginia Jones, Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

News from Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center: A rare 19th-century book, with stunning illustrations and a dramatic history, was donated to the Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center in June, and now the exhibition Nests, Eggs, Heartbreak & Beauty (September 30 – January 13) has been organized around it. Though the historic volume bears a dry, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[44],"class_list":["post-871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-art-culture","tag-exhibit"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-e3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7152,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/its-time-to-nest\/","url_meta":{"origin":871,"position":0},"title":"It’s Time to Nest","author":"Rosemary","date":"March 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Provide a home for birds, learn about their nests, and make your own nest cozier\u00a0with these picks from the Audubon Shop. Find a selection of items in our\u00a0online shop or visit us in person at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, MA. Also, don't miss our in-store only events: Spring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stuff We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Audubon Clock","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/02\/audubonclock.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1406,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/art-museums-new-name\/","url_meta":{"origin":871,"position":1},"title":"Art Museum’s New Name","author":"Hillary T.","date":"December 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"From the moment our \"founding mothers\" chose to name our organization after the iconic bird artist, John James Audubon, Mass Audubon and art have been closely connected. Now, 116 years later, Mass Audubon\u2019s art museum in Canton connects people and nature through art, educates about the beauty and significance of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art & Culture","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/art-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/12\/Benson-Pintails-sm-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14293,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-crushing-blow-to-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":871,"position":2},"title":"A Crushing Blow to Birds","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"June 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Eastern Bluebird \u00a9 Cheryl Rose The United States government has released a draft environmental impact statement that will crush the bird conservation successes of the last 100 years. Their report recommends ending federal protections for harassing, trapping, or killing birds, or taking nests and eggs, unless it can be proven\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Bluebird on Winterberry \u00a9 Cheryl Rose","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/12\/111Cheryl_Rose12864-e1592510293618.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/12\/111Cheryl_Rose12864-e1592510293618.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/12\/111Cheryl_Rose12864-e1592510293618.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/12\/111Cheryl_Rose12864-e1592510293618.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7297,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/protect-the-bobolink\/","url_meta":{"origin":871,"position":3},"title":"Protect the Bobolink","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"April 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By Lindall Kidd, Bird Conservation Associate With spring officially here, one of the world\u2019s most impressive songbird migrants, the bobolink, will be returning to Massachusetts. \u00a0Bobolinks travel some 6,000 miles to South America for winter, with some returning to breed in Massachusetts hayfields. Over their lifetime, a bobolink can travel\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/1793MarthaAkey6612-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/1793MarthaAkey6612-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/1793MarthaAkey6612-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2673,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/return-of-the-eagles\/","url_meta":{"origin":871,"position":4},"title":"Return of the Eagles","author":"Hillary T.","date":"August 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"For the first time that we can recall, a pair of bald eagles has successfully bred at a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary (Arcadia in Easthampton and Northampton). This is no small feat and needless to say, we were all very excited. But to really appreciate what a marvel this is,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stuff We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/08\/eaglesrichardjohnson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/08\/eaglesrichardjohnson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/08\/eaglesrichardjohnson.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/08\/eaglesrichardjohnson.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":480,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/ospreys-up-close\/","url_meta":{"origin":871,"position":5},"title":"Ospreys Up Close","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"July 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever seen a hawk-like bird swoop down in the water, diving for fish? Chances are it\u2019s an Osprey. These raptors once dubbed \u201cfish hawks\u201d are in a family all by themselves and can be found on six of the seven continents (both in fresh and salt water). 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