Rare Birds of China was commissioned in 1984 as a unique record of China’s rare and endangered birds. With the collaboration of ornithologists Cheng Hso-Hsin and Hsu Weishu, the Academia Sinica, the Ornithological Society of China, and the Beijing Natural History Museum, the species list was compiled with a particular concern for those birds threatened by habitat loss or other environmental hazards. Renowned artist J. Fenwick Lansdowne spent nearly ten years producing the prints, paying particular attention to details of color, form, and habitat. A limited edition set of 32 prints was created.

Collotype printing

Collotype printing—valued for the beauty and fidelity of the product—is a continuous-tone process not dependent upon the halftone dot screen of conventional printing. Up to 12 colors are required per image, each applied to separate handmade plates.

About the Artist

J. Fenwick Lansdowne

Often described as the successor to John James Audubon, J. Fenwick Lansdowne was born in 1937 to British parents in Hong Kong. Confined to bed in childhood by polio, he learned to paint from his mother, herself an accomplished artist. Since his first exhibition at the age of fifteen, Lansdowne’s art—renowned for fidelity of color and detail—has been exhibited internationally and is represented in many major collections.

Lansdowne and Audubon

Audubon’s art is revered by a broad public, in part because his birds communicate human emotions—they pirouette and bow, glower and cower. But their striking poses often are completely unnatural. Like Audubon, Lansdowne is a magnificent draftsman, with a superb sense of color and texture. Unlike Audubon, Lansdowne captures the essence of avian faces, as well as authentic behavior and natural habitats. Lansdowne’s compositions are beautifully choreographed, but never fanciful.

Please note: The Burke Room is a multi-purpose  room and not always open for public viewing. Visitors are encouraged to call in advance to check the room schedule: 206-616-3962.