The early nineteenth century was a time of great change in Louisville, Kentucky, becoming the states first city in 1828.
The city had a mass influx of settlers at the turn of the century, with the population tripling between 1810 and 1820.
One such settler was John James Audubon, the noted ornithologist, naturalist and painter who moved to Louisville in 1808. Audubon married Lucy Bakewell and had two sons: Victor Gifford Audubon (1809- 1860), and John Woodhouse Audubon (1812- 1862). Their eldest son studied painting under his father before assisting his him with the publication of his celebrated work The Birds of America, which was first published in sections between 1827 and 1838.
Audubon returned to America in 1840 to assist his father with the publication of his final work, The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. Both Audubon brothers assisted their father with this publication, with Victor contributing to the landscape details of the final volume, accurately depicting trees, plants, and general landscape backgrounds that he had become so talented with and fond of.
