FAVORITE POSSESSIONS

 AUDUBON'S TRUMPETER SWAN

The history of John James Audubon dates back to the early half of the eighteen hundreds when America was still mostly a wilderness and the wilderness was filled with bird life.

Audubon took it upon himself to record through illustration every one of them from the tiniest chickadee to the amazing greatness of the American eagle. His time was spent traveling America but our association with him is linked to the Hudson Valley. 

When we first started looking for a weekend home our search centered in the area west of the Hudson River and finally stopping at small hamlet in Delaware County. We've always been collectors and fascinated with all things antique and vintage.

Now with a six-bedroom house we had plenty of reasons to feed our obsession and buy what we wanted for our new home.

It was on one of the many trips to the country when out of habit we would stop at any place with a sign for pizza and antiques. Route 28 had several but only one with the combination of a Pizzeria and Antique Mall. That's where we found a smoke covered painting of Audubon's Trumpeter Swan hanging on the wall. It immediately went home with us.

We had the painting restored and that is when we discovered the signature "After Audubon". The Trumpeter Swan has become one of Audubon's most famous images.

It is also one his most copied images. Our best guess is this is a wonderful copy done by a weekend painter back in the late eighteen hundreds.

Given its condition it probably lived on a wall in a gentleman's smoking parlor or in bar for decades until ending up on the wall of the antique mall where we found it and bought it.

The painting is one of my favorite possessions.

It has moved with us from the Catskills to the city to Madison.

Its value is in memories and that's the way we should all feel about the things we surround ourselves with.