Customer Reviews

Baby Bird Portraits by George Miksch Sutton: Watercolors in the Field Museum

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The description of the book gives the impression that it relates to artist, and birdwatcher alike. Actually as an avid garden birdwatcher and a newish painter - it didn't do anything for me in either field. I am extremely disappointed with the book. Almost a quarter of the book describes a museum in Oklahoma where the originals are kept, and how they came by these and other paintings - very dry and boring! Some of the writing that goes along with each print is slightly interesting, but leaves me wanting more. (What happened to the other fledgling cardinal the artist took from the nest?) There are many different sparrows included, a few of the same cardinals growing, and some other baby birds, some of which are not at all cute and cuddly. The best print is the one chosen for the front.

This book does remind us how thoughtless 'scientists' were at the time, about taking creatures from their natural habitat to 'study' without thought or regard for their wellbeing.

Altogether a dull and boring book. Get it from the library - don't waste your money buying it!

Simply put, this is a stunning collection of 35 watercolors of downy chicks, nestlings, and fledglings painted from life by one of the premier bird artists of the 20th century, George Miksch Sutton. The 19 species of North American birds, many reproduced here for the first time, are exquisite paintings standing alone but the highly readable, informative text by internationally renowned ornithologist Paul A. Johnsgard is both indispensable and helps make this a must-have, one-of-a-king bird lovers delight. The book is a steal at this price.