Thomas Colville Fine Art
19th c. American and French (Barbizon School) Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings
 

John Woodhouse Audubon (American 1812-1862)
Colonel Abert’s Squirrel, circa 1852
Oil on canvas
18 ½ x 14 ½ inches
American frame, 1850’s
By 1852 when he painted Colonel Abert’s Squirrel at the conclusion of the monumental project, The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, John Woodhouse Audubon’s artistic abilities rivaled those of his father in conveying the character, vitality, and realistic detail of his animal subjects.
This charming, freshly discovered native of the Southwest was portrayed in its natural habitat of the San Francisco Mountains near present-day Flagstaff, Arizona. The energy inherent in the squirrel’s upright pose and the precision of his delicate whiskers and finely delineated coat suggest the animation of a quivering nose and flickering tail, while the liquid eyes and red hue of his open mouth suggest the warmth and appeal of a living creature.