AUDUBON’S BIRDS OF AMERICA

12 February to 8 May

The great American ornithologist and artist John James Audubon broke new ground when he published his ambitious book, Birds of America, back in the 19th century. Not only did he depart from his peers by illustrating birds in their natural setting, but each of the 435 life-size, hand-coloured prints measured nearly one-metre high.

More than 40 of these plates are to go on show in this new interpretation of the ornithological illustrator’s work, which despite being published nearly 200 years ago, still proves to be a pertinent reminder of the fragility and beauty of our natural environment.

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. www.nms.ac.uk