John James Audubon: America's Naturalist

John James Audubon, a renowned naturalist, was born in 1785. Initially unsuccessful in business, he turned to painting birds, leading to his famous work, 'The Birds of America'. Despite unconventional methods, his work raised public awareness of nature. Audubon sought funding in Europe, eventually producing his series through a labor-intensive process. His legacy endures, with unique sets of his work displayed at The Field Museum.

What was one of the tall tales Audubon was known for telling?

• He was a famous American artist.

• He was the long lost Prince of France.

• He was a renowned scientist.

• He was a wealthy businessman.

What did Audubon decide to do after his business failures?

• Write a book about his life.

• Become a scientist.

• Paint every bird and beast in America.

• Return to France.

How did Audubon study birds for his illustrations?

• By observing them in the wild.

• By shooting them and using their lifeless bodies.

• By using photographs.

• By reading about them in books.

What was a challenge Audubon faced with his bird illustrations?

• Finding enough birds to study.

• Fitting large birds on the canvas.

• Finding a place to display them.

• Getting the colors right.

Why did Audubon travel to Europe?

• To find new bird species.

• To secure funding for his project.

• To escape from America.

• To study art.

What was Audubon's opinion about leaving America for Europe?

• He was excited to leave.

• He was reluctant to leave.

• He was indifferent about the journey.

• He was hopeful about his return.

How were the prints of 'The Birds of America' distributed?

• As individual paintings.

• As unbound groups of prints.

• As digital copies.

• As bound books.

What made each set of 'The Birds of America' unique?

• The type of paper used.

• The number of prints.

• The size of the prints.

• The color and design variations.

How long will it take to reveal all pages of 'The Birds of America' at The Field Museum?

• One year.

• Five years.

• Eight years.

• Ten years.

How many complete bound sets of 'The Birds of America' exist today?

• 120

• 100

• 50

• 150