Giclee, Limited Edition, Australia, Fauna, Nicolas Baudin Voyage, Lesueur, Kangaroo or King Island Dwarf Emu, 1803

Title: "Nouvelle-Hollande: Ile des Kangaroos."

Description: A study of five dwarf emus (now extinct) on either Kangaroo Island or King Island, south of the Southern Australian mainland. We see the male, in what seems a commanding, guarding pose facing right, with back leg forward and front leg back. On the neck of the male is, what seems to resemble, a healthy feathery white "cravat"  with dark gray body feather. A dark gray female appears to be nesting on green grass underneath with three chicks, two have white stripes and one without. "There has been much discussion and debate as to whether his beautiful illustration depicts the Kangaroo or King Island emu. Current theory is that the larger bird is from Kangaroo Island and the smaller is a young King Island emu"

Charles Alexandre Lesueur (1778-1846): The original drawings and painting were by the Baudin Voyage (1800-1804) official Natural History artist, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.  His exquisite artwork was lithographed by F. Lambert for 'Voyage de D'couvertes aux Terre Australes'. Published Paris, 1808-1811

Empress Josephine, Chateau Malmaison, and the Last Dwarf Emu: Live specimens were returned to France along with wallabies and other Australian and Madagascan fauna and flora. Many of the unique fauna that made it back to France, were taken to Chateau Malmaison. Indeed, it was in France where the last dwarf emu died in 1822 at the equally grand garden estate of Jardin des Plantes (Josephine died in 1814). Now, all that remain of this unique creature are a brittle feather in  Tasmania Museum, some fragile bones in European museums, and this beautiful gathering by the talented French artist Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.

Size of image = 28cm x 22cm (111/6 x 82/3 inch)