King Duck, Plate CCLXXVI (1836)

Highlights

• 276 King Duck by John James Audubon from Birds of America — a faithful museum-quality reproduction of a celebrated ornithological study.
• CHOOSE YOUR SIZE & FORMAT: Pick your dimensions and shape right from this listing — vertical, horizontal, panoramic and square options available.
• MUSEUM-QUALITY GICLEE: Fade-resistant archival inks on premium artist-grade canvas, hand-stretched and gallery-wrapped over a solid 1.5" wood frame, hardware attached and ready to hang.
• A REFINED FOCAL POINT for the living room, bedroom, study, home office or entryway — timeless style with lasting appeal.
• HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA: Made to order in multiple sizes and shapes — a thoughtful, gallery-worthy gift.

Description

This plate from Audubon's monumental 'Birds of America' depicts two King Eider ducks — a striking black-and-white male with a vivid orange-and-green bill posed dramatically on a rock, and a mottled brown female resting nearby on a rocky shoreline, with dramatic coastal cliffs and a moody grey sky in the background. The King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) is an Arctic sea duck known for its spectacular male plumage, and Audubon's original double-elephant folio plates, published between 1827 and 1838, are celebrated as masterworks of natural history illustration. The composition's dynamic posture and rich naturalistic detail capture the wild spirit of the bird's northern coastal habitat.