I wanted to share with you the story of Elizabeth Gould.

Lived 1804-1841, Elizabeth was a British born natural history artist and illustrator, married to the well-known ornithologist John Gould. Her sublime lithographs of birds helped cement the Gould name in ornithological history. Elizabeth’s life was short but eventful, unfortunately dying after giving birth to her eighth child.

With Elizabeth’s drawings and lithography skills and John’s research, they produced a number of significant books of ornithology. Elizabeth also illustrated Charles Darwin’s Galapagos finches and emus.

In 1838-1840 Elizabeth Gould, mother and wife made a courageous journey to Australia. Leaving her younger children in London in her mother’s care, travelling by sea with her eldest son on “The Parsee” accompanying John in his ambition to research and document Australian bird species as yet unseen in Europe for their book, The Birds of Australia. Over the years the acknowledgement of Elizabeth’s contribution was not always clear in the signage of the lithographs.

Dying a year into the publication of The Birds of Australia, her beautiful illustrations and preliminary watercolours were finished off by H.C. Richter.  Celebrating Elizabeth’s Australian journey my paintings are the re-working of the many Australian birds featured in Elizabeth’s detailed lithographs.  I have made works in which native flora and fauna are entwined, some of these species are now extinct or endangered.

In a contemporary portrayal of Elizabeth, I have set her against a backdrop of the Australian bush. Gentle triggers allude to her uncertainty in an unknown land, perhaps a fear of finding herself unwelcome.

My works bring awareness to the life and lithographs of Elizabeth Gould, together with a continuation of the task of observing and documenting our native Australian flora and fauna, so many species of which are also at risk of disappearing without a trace.

Bronni Krieger, Artist Statement