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Silk Scarves by Joel Oppenheimer Gallery
Drawn from Nature
Our inaugural scarf collection reimagines renowned works by natural history artists John James Audubon and Dr. Robert John Thornton. Expanding upon their themes, the ornithological and botanical subjects they depict are brought to life in meticulously conceived original designs by artist and gallery owner Joel Oppenheimer.
Made in the U. S. A. from the finest quality 100-percent silk twill, our luxurious double-sided scarves are richly colored and carefully finished with attentive details, such as hand-rolled and hand-sewn hems. Each scarf is 36 inches square. From the moment you see and feel our scarves, you will appreciate the exceptional quality and beauty of these exquisite works of art on fabric.
John James Audubon
Hailed in his lifetime for his incomparable work, The Birds of America, John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a renaissance man who was equal parts intrepid explorer, inquisitive scientist, expert hunter, publisher, and innovative artist. Today, he is revered as a master of nineteenth-century American art and one of the greatest ornithological artists of all time.
Audubon's watercolor paintings were executed on the American frontier during arduous expeditions. His intention was to depict all the birds of North America in their natural habitats. He worked with London engraver Robert Havell to produce the complete folio from 1827 to 1838. The Birds of America comprises 435 hand-colored engravings. The plates depict each subject in its actual size, and are among the largest ever produced.
Dr. Robert Thornton
Thornton's magnum opus, Temple of Flora, is a cultural treasure and one of the greatest botanical folios ever produced. Dr. Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) commissioned eminent British painters and engravers to create his lavish folios.
A quintessential expression of the English Romantic period, Thornton's vision to illustrate plants in "picturesque" landscapes introduced the idea of backgrounds into the botanical lexicon of natural history art. This artistic innovation set his work apart from other botanical illustrations of the day in which plants were figured without a background for the purpose of plant identification. The depiction of botanical subjects prominently in the foreground of dramatic landscapes is a unique hallmark of this extraordinary work.
