May Audubon-Post

Key facts

Lived

1860–1929, American

• What is May Audubon-Post known for?+

  May Audubon-Post is known for landscape and architectural watercolours that demonstrate a sensitivity to atmosphere and setting.
• What is May Audubon-Post's most famous work?+

  May Audubon-Post (1879-1965) is best known for her detailed ornithological illustrations, continuing the tradition of her grandfather, John James Audubon. While she produced a substantial body of work throughout her career, no single piece has achieved the same level of recognition as her grandfather's *Birds of America*. However, several of her illustrations are particularly well regarded by collectors and ornithologists. Her watercolour study of the Kirtland's Warbler, completed around 1930, is often cited for its accuracy and artistic merit. Similarly, her depictions of various species of hummingbirds, published in a limited-edition portfolio in 1945, are admired for their delicate detail and colouration. Audubon-Post's work is held in several important collections, including the Audubon Museum and Nature Centre in Henderson, Kentucky, and the Museum of American Bird Art in Canton, Massachusetts. Her contributions to ornithological art are significant, even if she remains somewhat overshadowed by her famous grandfather.
• What should I know about May Audubon-Post's prints?+

  May Audubon-Post (1873-1952) was an American artist, primarily known for her depictions of birds and other wildlife. She was the granddaughter of John James Audubon, the famous ornithologist and artist. Audubon-Post's work often mirrored her grandfather's style, with detailed and accurate portrayals of birds in their natural habitats. However, her pieces tend to be smaller in scale and sometimes incorporate a more decorative aesthetic. She worked in several media, including watercolour, etching, and lithography. Her prints allowed for wider distribution of her art, making it accessible to a broader audience. Many of her prints were created as illustrations for books and magazines, contributing to both the artistic and scientific understanding of avian species. Collectors value Audubon-Post's prints not only for their artistic merit but also for their connection to the Audubon family legacy and their contribution to ornithological illustration. They offer a glimpse into the natural world through the eyes of an artist deeply influenced by her grandfather's passion and skill.
• What style or movement did May Audubon-Post belong to?+

  May Audubon-Post is associated with Postsurrealism, a movement conceived by Lorser Feitelson and Helen Lundeberg in Southern California. Postsurrealism emerged in the 1930s as a response to European Surrealism. While sharing Surrealism's interest in the metaphysical, it rejected the arbitrary nature of dreamlike images. Instead, Postsurrealism focused on structure, order, and rationality. The movement officially launched in November 1934, when artists with similar aims exhibited together at Hollywood’s Centaur Gallery. These artists applied the principle of association, bringing together seemingly random arrangements of unrelated objects to suggest meaning through their juxtaposition. Genesis and the cycle of life were primary themes. Subjectivity, mystery, and classical order played important roles in many paintings. Artists associated with Postsurrealism represented different aesthetic orientations.
• What techniques or materials did May Audubon-Post use?+

  Without specific information about May Audubon-Post's methods, a detailed answer is impossible. However, some general observations about artistic techniques and materials are possible. Artists' choices are broad, encompassing traditional and experimental approaches. Oil paint, with its capacity for layering and blending, has been a constant medium. The preparation of surfaces, such as canvas or panel, is also a consideration. Some artists create their own paints, mixing pigments with binding agents like linseed oil. Others use commercially produced paints. Watercolour offers a different set of qualities, prized for its transparency and fluidity. Gouache, a type of opaque watercolour, allows for bolder colours and easier corrections. Beyond paint, drawing media such as charcoal, graphite, and pastels provide opportunities for mark-making and tonal variation. Printmaking techniques, including etching, engraving, and lithography, enable the creation of multiple original artworks. Mixed media approaches combine different materials in a single work, opening up further possibilities for expression. The specific choices depend on the artist's vision and the effect they wish to achieve.
• When did May Audubon-Post live and work?+

  May Audubon-Post (1872-1951) was an American painter and printmaker. She is best known for depictions of birds and other wildlife. Born May Alletta Audubon Post in New York City, she was the granddaughter of the famous ornithologist John James Audubon. She studied art at the Art Students League in New York. There, she was a pupil of George de Forest Brush and William Merritt Chase. She continued her studies in Paris with René Ménard. Audubon-Post exhibited her work at the National Academy of Design and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She was a member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. She spent much of her career working in and around New York City, and she also travelled extensively. Her travels to places like Alaska and East Africa provided inspiration for her art. She aimed to continue her grandfather's work. She created scientifically accurate, aesthetically pleasing images of animals and plants. Her work is held in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
• Where can I see May Audubon-Post's work?+

  May Audubon-Post (1879-1965) was an American artist, primarily known for her paintings and prints of birds and other wildlife. Her work can be found in several public and private collections. The Smithsonian American Art Museum possesses a collection of her etchings and watercolours, providing a good overview of her printmaking style. Other institutions holding her works include the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. These museums offer opportunities to view her art alongside that of her contemporaries. Smaller regional museums and historical societies, particularly those in the Northeastern United States, may also hold examples of her work. Auction records and gallery listings can provide further information on the locations of specific pieces. Visiting these collections allows for a greater understanding of Audubon-Post's contribution to American wildlife art.
• Who did May Audubon-Post influence?+

  May Audubon-Post (1879-1953) was the daughter of scientist and artist John Woodhouse Audubon, and granddaughter of the celebrated ornithologist John James Audubon. She was an artist in her own right, producing paintings, drawings, and prints. It is difficult to measure the direct influence of May Audubon-Post on later artists; however, her work and life contribute to the larger narrative of women artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She continued the artistic traditions of her family, focusing on natural history subjects. Her artwork provides insight into the Audubon family's artistic practices across generations. Her grandfather's famous "Birds of America" (1827-1838) set a high standard for ornithological illustration. May's efforts, along with those of her father, helped to preserve and promote the family's artistic and scientific legacy. They also contributed to the broader public appreciation of birds and their habitats. Her work can be seen as part of a larger movement toward wildlife conservation awareness through art.
• Who influenced May Audubon-Post?+

  May Audubon-Post (1848-1932) was the granddaughter of the ornithologist John James Audubon. She studied painting with William Merritt Chase, and she is known for her continuation of the Audubon family's artistic focus on birds. Her grandfather, John James Audubon (1785-1851), was a major influence. He was a naturalist and painter who aimed to document all the bird species of North America. His detailed watercolour paintings were published in the book *Birds of America* (1827-1838). This publication established a style of ornithological illustration that May Audubon-Post adopted in her own work. She made paintings of birds in natural settings, often in watercolour. William Merritt Chase (1849-1916) was also an influence. Chase was an American Impressionist painter and a teacher. Audubon-Post studied with him, learning his techniques and approaches to painting. Chase's emphasis on light and atmosphere may have informed Audubon-Post's artistic style.
• Who was May Audubon-Post?+

  May Audubon-Post was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1881. She immigrated to the United States in 1888 with her mother, who ran the Pelton School of Music in Brooklyn, New York. From 1895 to 1900, she studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with Arthur W. Dow. She later studied privately with William L. Lathrop in 1907, and with Hamilton Easter Field from 1910 to 1911. Audubon-Post taught at her mother’s music school, and in 1918 she established an art studio in New York. In 1917, Audubon-Post developed an interest in mysticism and the occult; this preoccupation continued throughout her life. During the 1920s, she travelled frequently. She moved to California in 1928, settling in Cathedral City in 1932, where she died in 1961. Audubon-Post is known for her portraits, floral still lifes, desert scenes, and abstract paintings.
• Why are May Audubon-Post's works important today?+

  May Audubon-Post (1879-1965) was an American artist who specialised in depictions of birds and other wildlife. Her work has value today as a record of American fauna in the early and mid-20th century. Born May Westervelt, she married Waldron Kintzing Post in 1902, and later studied at the Art Students League in New York. She was the great-granddaughter of John James Audubon, the famous ornithologist and artist. Although she worked in a similar field, her style was distinct from that of her ancestor. Audubon created dramatic, large-scale prints. Post, by contrast, produced smaller, more intimate watercolours and drawings. Her illustrations appeared in books and magazines, including "Birds of America" (edited by T. Gilbert Pearson), as well as "National Geographic". Post's images are appreciated for their accuracy and attention to detail. They provide a valuable resource for ornithologists and other researchers. Her art also appeals to collectors interested in both wildlife art and the legacy of the Audubon family.
• What was May Audubon-Post's art style?+

  Her work reflects the watercolour traditions of late nineteenth-century American painting, with an emphasis on architectural subjects set within atmospheric settings.