John Gould

John Gould (1804-1881) was a London-based naturalist and a leading authority on ornithology. He began his career as a gardener , where he learned the techniques of taxidermy and gained a deep knowledge of birds' natural habitats. At the tender age of 23, he became curator and taxidermist at the Zoological Society of London's museum. While Gould was not himself an accomplished illustrator, many of his 3,000 drawings were produced in collaboration with other artists , including his wife Elizabeth and the eccentric poet Edward Lear .

John Gould Biography

• Born September 14, 1804 in Lyme Regis, England
• He began working as a gardener and learned taxidermy skills.
• In 1827 he became curator and taxidermist at the Zoological Society of London's museum.
• From the 1830s onwards, he devoted himself to the study of ornithology, researching and collecting birds from all over the world.
• From 1838 to 1840, he traveled to Australia to study and collect birds.
• He published many bird books and is known as the "father of Australian ornithology."
• Died in London on February 3, 1881 (aged 76)

Representative works

• The Birds of Europe (1832-1837)
• The Birds of Asia (1850-1883)
• A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-birds (1849-1861)
• The Birds of Australia (1840-1848)

Gould's style and achievements

Gould's passion as an ornithologist and his strong desire to create beautiful bird guides led him to collaborate with many artists to produce detailed, colorful bird illustrations that accurately capture the morphology and ecology of birds and express their beauty to the fullest.

Gould made an enormous contribution to ornithological research, his works had a major influence on the development of bird taxonomy, and his illustrations are highly valued by bird enthusiasts and art collectors alike.

Gould was a leading 19th century ornithologist who combined natural history with art . His work conveys the diversity and beauty of birds to the modern day, and also plays a role in calling attention to the importance of nature conservation.