A lithograph of American Elk (Wapiti) by John James Audubon, from *The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America*. The print showcases a male and female elk in a natural setting, rendered with precise detail and a muted colour palette.

This lithograph depicts a pair of American Elk, also known as Wapiti, in their natural habitat. The male stands tall, displaying a magnificent set of antlers, while the female rests on the ground nearby. In the background, a small herd grazes in a meadow, with rolling hills and trees completing the scene. The image is rendered with precise detail, capturing the texture of the animals' fur and the subtle variations in the surrounding vegetation. The colour palette is muted, with earthy browns and greens dominating the composition. The sky is a pale blue, providing a soft backdrop for the animals. The print is from John James Audubon's series *The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America*, published between 1845 and 1849. Audubon, a self-trained artist and naturalist, sought to document all known species of mammals on the continent. His work is celebrated for its scientific accuracy and artistic merit. The elk, a symbol of strength and grace, is presented here with both realism and a sense of reverence for the natural world.