Spotless Egret, c. 1840 by Elizabeth Gould

Spotless Egret, c. 1840 by Elizabeth Gould A slender white egret stands amid coastal grasses and shoreline light, its long plumes and precise anatomy rendered in Elizabeth Gould's meticulous hand. Gould illustrated many of the plates for her husband John Gould's landmark Birds of Australia, working from specimens to capture each bird's true form and bearing.

Artist: Elizabeth Gould (British, 1804-1841). Date: 1840s (Birds of Australia, published 1840-48).

Spotless Egret, c. 1840 by Elizabeth Gould. Ornithological Canvas Print.