Welcome to Oppenheimer Gallery

The Golden Age of Exploration

Joel and David Oppenheimer in their Gallery

The Joel Oppenheimer Gallery is the nation’s leading expert in natural history art from the 17th through 19th century.  This was a period of expeditions, voluminous libraries, explorers, naturalists, and gifted craftspeople.  Naturalists went to great lengths to procure specimens, create their vivid folios, and deliver these findings to their wealthy patrons and subscribers.

We invite you to travel back to this time with us an enjoy our tremendous collection of birds, plants, animals and more from this remarkable time.

Recent Articles

The Alchemy of Nature – Using Gold in Natural History Art

While found less frequently in natural history art than other genres, gold nonetheless makes an [...]

The Hudson River School Painters

Recognized as the first distinctively American art movement, the Hudson River School comprised a group [...]

John Gould’s Family of Hummingbirds Lithographs

John Gould’s monograph The Family of Hummingbirds is considered the crowning achievement of his illustrious [...]

The Language of Paper – Deciphering the Secrets of Antique Paper through Its Material Qualities

Often indications of a paper’s place of origin, method of manufacture, and time of creation [...]

Evolving Impressions – Unfolding the History of Prints as Art Objects and Collectibles

From their conception, prints have served both constructive and aesthetic purposes. In contrast to more [...]

How to Distinguish Between the Various Editions of Besler’s ‘Garden of Eichstätt’

A practical guide to understanding and identifying the different editions of Besler’s folio through paper [...]

Casualties of Fashion: The Contentious History of Plume Plundering

Though the idea of ornamenting oneself with a bird carcass may be a bit deterring [...]

Popular Categories

Shop Audubon 1st Octavo Ed


The Birds of America hand-colored lithographs; circa 1839 – 1844

Audubon Octavo Pl 14 White-headed Eagle

Octavo prints measure 10 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches.

Shop John Gould Hummingbirds


The Hummingbirds hand-colored lithographs; circa 1849 – 1861

Gould Hummingbirds Pl 174

Gould prints measure 21 3/4 x 15 inches.

Shop Audubon Havell Edition


The Birds of America double-elephant hand-colored engravings; circa 1827 – 1836

Audubon Havell Edition Pl-256 - Reddish Egret

Audubon Havell prints measure approx. 39 1/4 x 26 1/4 inches.

Shop Besler Deluxe Edition


The Hortus Eystettensis hand-colored engravings; circa 1613

Besler Deluxe Edition Plate 165

Besler prints measure 22 x 16 1/2 inches.

Shop Original Catesby Prints


Natural History of Carolina, Florida etc. hand-colored engravings; 1754 & 1771 Ed.

Catesby 1754 Edition Vol 2 Pl 15 - Hog Fish

Catesby prints measure 20 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches.

Shop Thornton Botanical Prints


The Temple of Flora hand-colored aquatint engravings; circa 1797 – 1810

Thornton Plate 14 - Night Blowing Cereus

Thornton prints measure approx. 21 5/8 x 17 1/8 inches.

Original Audubon Print Categories

Shop Audubon Havell Edition


The Birds of America double-elephant hand-colored engravings; circa 1827 – 1836

Audubon Havell Edition Pl-301 Canvas back Duck

Audubon Havell prints measure approx. 39 1/4 x 26 1/4 inches.

Shop Audubon 1st Octavo Ed Birds


The Birds of America octavo hand-colored lithographs; circa 1839 – 1844

Audubon Octavo Pl 14 White-headed Eagle

Octavo prints measure 10 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches.

Shop Audubon Bien Edition


The Birds of America double-elephant color lithographs; circa 1858 – 1860

Audubon Bien Ed Plate 278 Carolina Parrot

Audubon Bien prints measure approx. 39 1/4 x 26 1/4 inches.

Shop Audubon 2nd Ed Octavo Birds


The Birds of America double-elephant hand-colored engravings; circa 1827 – 1836

Audubon Octavo Pl 386 - Dusky Duck

Octavo prints measure 10 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches.

Shop Audubon Imperial Folio Quadrupeds


The Quadrupeds imperial sized hand-colored lithographs; circa 1845 – 1848

Audubon Bowen Edition Pl 56 - American Bison

Imperial quadruped prints measure 22 x 28 inches.

Shop Audubon Octavo Ed Quadrupeds


The Birds of America double-elephant color lithographs; circa 1858 – 1860

Audubon Octavo Plate 1 - Wild Cat

Octavo prints measure 10 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches.

Shop All Audubon Art

Bird & Wildlife Art Categories

Shop Original Catesby Prints


Natural History of Carolina, Florida etc. hand-colored engravings; 1754 & 1771 Ed.

Catesby 1754, Vol. 2 Pl. 32, The Land Crab

Catesby prints measure 20 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches.

Shop John Gould Hummingbirds


The Hummingbirds hand-colored lithographs; circa 1849 – 1861

Gould Hummingbirds Pl. 61 De Rhams Garnet

Gould prints measure 21 3/4 x 15 inches.

Shop Edward Lear Birds of Europe


Birds of Europe hand-colored lithographs; circa 1832 – 1837

Lear Plate 38 - Eastern Eagle Owl

Lear prints measure 21 3/4 x 15 inches.

Shop Daniel Elliot Pheasants


Monograph of Pheasants hand-colored lithographs; circa 1872

Elliot Pl. 46, Mongolian Pheasant

Elliot prints measure 23 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches.

Shop Alexander Wilson 1st Ed Birds


The American Ornithology hand-colored engravings; circa 1808 – 1814

Wilson 1st Edition, Pl. 67 Black or Surf Duck; Buffle-headed D.; Canada Goose; Tufted Duck; Golden eye; Shoveller

Wilson prints measure 13 3/4 x 10 3/8 inches.

Shop John Gould Toucans


The Family of Toucans hand-colored lithographs; circa 1852 – 1854

Gould Toucans 1st Ed, Pl. 20, Saffron-coloured Aracari

Gould prints measure 21 3/4 x 15 inches.

Shop Selby Original Artwork


The British Ornithology hand-colored engravings; circa 1808 – 1814

Selby Vol 2, Pl. 43, White Fronted Wild Goose

Selby prints measure approx. 20 5/8 x 25 1/2 inches.

Shop All Avian and Wildlife Art

Original Botanical Art Categories

Shop Basilius Besler Deluxe, 1st, & 2nd Ed.


Hortus Eystettensis hand-colored engravings; circa 1613

Besler Deluxe Ed. Pl. 313, Variegated florists carnation

Besler prints measure 22 x 16 1/2 inches.

Shop Thornton Botanical Prints


The Temple of Flora hand-colored aquatint engravings; circa 1797 – 1810

Thornton Plate 14 - Night Blowing Cereus

Thornton prints measure approx. 21 5/8 x 17 1/8 inches.

Shop Pierre-Joseph Redouté


The Les Roses color stipple engravings; circa 1817 – 1824 | The Les Liliacées color stipple engravings; circa 1802 – 1816 | Choix des plus Belles Fleur color stipple engravings; circa 1827 & 1835

Shop Redouté Les Liliacées


The Les Roses color stipple engravings; circa 1817 – 1824

Redouté Lilies measure 20 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches

Shop Redouté Les Roses


The Les Liliacées color stipple engravings; circa 1802 – 1816

Redouté Roses measure  14 1/4 x 10 5/8 inches

Shop Redouté Choix


Choix des plus Belles Fleur color stipple engravings; circa 1827 & 1835

Redouté Choix measure  12 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches

 

Shop All Botanical Art