Robert Havell, Jr.
British, 1793-1878
American Bittern Copper Plate, 1836
Copper with nickel plating
Friends of Audubon Collection, JJA.2007.4
This is an original etched copper plate with engraving and aquatint created by Robert Havell, Jr. in 1836 after John James Audubon’s original painting of the American Bittern. It was used to print Plate 337 of Audubon’s The Birds of America. This plate is one of fewer than 80 original plates from the publication still in existence.
Where can you view this object? As of the writing of this post, the copper plate is located in a display case in Gallery C of the Audubon Museum.
Questions? Contact museum curator Heidi Taylor-Caudill at 502-782-9716 or heidi.taylorcaudill@ky.gov.
