Of the great artists who recorded the 19th century exploration of the North American continent, John James Audubon chose the birds and animals of this new nation as his life work. His special combination of skill and passion produced work so unique that the viewer is able to glimpse the world from the perspective of the subject matter.

Audubon had strong links to Texas. He first visited with his son, John Woodhouse Audubon, in 1836, the dawn of the Republic era. It was years later that John Woodhouse was able to return and make a more thorough examination of the country, this time in search of animals. Woodhouse finished most of the quadrupeds as his father became increasingly ill, and his style is so similar to his father that it is difficult to tell the difference between the two.

John Woodhouse's trip through Texas in 1846-47, was with a group composed of Audubon, his father's gardener, Indian guides and an assortment of Texas Rangers, who entertained Audubon tremendously with their stories, riding slowly through the Texas countryside in search for its animal population. Texas data was also supplied from officers in the Mexican American war, who sent Audubon invaluable firsthand observations.

These remarkable pieces are a tribute to the dedication of the Audubon family, Rev. John Bachman and his family and others who assisted in production of these works. Audubon set out to capture the finest resource of the growing country - its birds and animals.

Following is a partial list of the Texas quads and their descriptions, as well as birds significantly linked to the state: