Our Audubon Gallery features a rare, complete four-folio set of The Birds of America, the culmination of John James Audubon’s quest to depict every existing bird species in North America, which he undertook beginning in 1820. Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the turning of the Audubon pages earlier this week. | North Carolina Museum of Art

Naturalist and painter John James Audubon was born on this day in 1785 in San Domingue (Haiti) and came to New Orleans in 1821 while working on his “Birds of America” series. He painted game birds at the French Market and earned his livelihood painting portraits. THNOC’s acquisition of this rare, double-elephant Audubon Portfolio was made possible by the 2016 Laussat Society. | The Historic New Orleans Collection