Customer Reviews

Gulls, Ravens and a Vulture

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When the Stern Librarian is not diligently reading through the never-ending contents of her magic book bag, she likes to take long, leisurely ambles by the shore. If there is any lovelier sight than the Stern Librarian on the beach nearsightedly staring out to the horizon, it is a herring gull soaring overhead (unless of course I have just washed my car or am indulging a very rare craving for French fries). James Wyeth's paintings capture the beauty of gulls, while not ignoring their shrewish, greedy temperaments. This beautiful book also contains paintings of ravens, crows, chickens and geese, as well as two intriguing essays by naturalists. I learned that gull populations have increased in Maine since the 17th century, because gulls will eat almost anything (including other gulls) and fly great distances for garbage. The essay on ravens reveals that the measures James Wyeth had to take to study these elusive creatures in nature were not pretty, though the resulting art is so. This book also pointed out to me a hitherto unknown connection between James Wyeth and Andy Warhol (James one of two artists invited to work at Warhol's factory), a connection which is very apparent in the chicken paintings. The Stern Librarian was privileged to have her copy of this book inscribed by James Wyeth himself at a very giving holiday appearance at the Farnsworth Museum. The Stern Librarian (I am generous with free bookmarks).

This book is well laid out with very good reproductions of Mr. Wyeth's work. It is also interesting to read the comments by various people regarding the subjects of Jamie Wyeth's paintings. I especially enjoyed reading Mr. Berend's observations of ravens. Jamie Wyeth is one of the few artists to capture Ravens and Gulls accurately and without romanticizing them. I am very happy with this purchase.