Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks)c. 1827 · Study 1964.351

Context from the museum

A vigorous portrayal of two peregrine falcons with their fresh duck prey, John James Audubon's painting relates to his groundbreaking Birds of America publication that sought to depict every species of native North American bird posed in action with elements of their habitats. Based on his artistic and scientific successes, Audubon became the premier naturalist in the United States. After his death, he continued to be associated with bird and nature conservation, and several organizations devoted to such causes were named in his honor. However, in recent years, as Audubon's slaveholding and looting of Indigenous graves has become more widely acknowledged, an increasing number of these groups are changing their names.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Clocked at speeds more than 240 mph, peregrine falcons are the world's fastest animals.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks) is 91.5 cm wide and 64.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 36.0 × 25.4 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.42:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.59 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 30.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 104.3 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Peregrine Falcons (Duck Hawks) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 91.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?