Frontis England, 1733 Ink on paper Courtesy of Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts Gift of Mr. James D. Diddier

In 1733, John Drayton (1715–1779), received a portfolio containing 47 watercolor paintings by artist George Edwards (1694–1773), the father of British ornithology. The watercolors, completed ten years before the publication of the first volume of Edwards’ A Natural History of Uncommon Birds (1743), are the oldest and only of their type to survive in North America. Drayton was 18 years old and this exchange is the best evidence for him experiencing a grand tour of Europe as Edwards never visited North America. Long forgotten, the watercolors were discovered in the attic of 25 East Bay Street upon the death of Charlotta Drayton in 1969. Over time, portions of the portfolio were sold. In 2009, Drayton Hall purchased 21 of the 47 paintings, recognized as the Lenhardt Collection of George Edwards Watercolors at Drayton Hall. Flights of Fancy: An Exploration of Uncommon Birds highlights some of the most important species and reunites loaned portfolio paintings from the original 47 now currently held by museums and private collectors for the first time in 55 years.

George Edwards was part of the age of enlightenment and was intrigued by the diversity in nature brought back to England through global exploration. His four volumes serve as his contributions to science. Many of the birds in John Drayton’s portfolio are not found in Edwards’ published volumes, as Edwards would often not publish specimens that colleague Mark Catesby (1683–1749) had already published.

This is part of a special online exhibit titled, Flights of Fancy: An Exploration of Uncommon Birds.  To view more please visit:

Plantation Economy

Extinction

Falconry

Continental Africa

North and South America

South East Asia

To view an interactive map showcasing all 47 watercolors, please visit:

George Edwards A Global View