작품 상세

This rare black and white engraving is of a Gorged Falcon and was drawn by John Hancock. The engraving was printed by Hulandell & Walton. This image depicts a falcon mounted atop a large rock. John Hancock was a British naturalist, ornithologist and taxidermist. From a young age, Hancock was fascinated by birds and started to collect them which eventually led to his taxidermy specialization. He also trained birds and was especially intrigued by falcons. He was one of the first members of the Tyneside Naturalists Field Club and the vice president of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1851 he presented a series of mounted birds, focusing on birds of prey, to the Great Exhibition in London, where he received a very positive reception and maintained his reputation as one of the best taxidermists of the time.