author
John Woodhouse Audubon
1812–1862
Raised in the world of natural history, this American painter carried on the Audubon family’s close study of birds and animals while also recording scenes of life on the expanding American frontier. His work blends scientific observation with a lively sense of place.
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About the author
Born in Henderson, Kentucky, on November 30, 1812, John Woodhouse Audubon was the second son of John James Audubon. He grew up in a family deeply committed to art and natural history, and from an early age he was encouraged to draw and to help with his father’s ambitious projects.
Much of his career was tied to continuing and supporting the Audubon enterprise. He assisted with his father’s ornithological work and became known for paintings of wildlife, especially birds and mammals, while also producing portraits and scenes connected with westward migration. His art is often noted for combining careful observation with the storytelling energy of 19th-century American life.
John Woodhouse Audubon died in New York on February 21, 1862. Though often remembered in the shadow of his famous father, he left behind a body of work of his own and played an important part in preserving and extending the Audubon family’s artistic legacy.