Lesueur Emu Family Print | Museum Quality Natural History Wall Art
This Lesueur emu print is a faithful reproduction of an early nineteenth century natural history wall art plate by the French artist and naturalist Charles Alexandre Lesueur (1778 to 1846). A piece of genuine antique scientific illustration, it shows a family group of emus, a male, a female, a juvenile and two chicks aged around 20 to 25 days. Produced as a museum quality art print on fine etching paper, it brings the golden age of exploration into your home, an original gift for anyone drawn to a scientific, museum and antique aesthetic.
The original drawing comes from an AM Library volume of Nouvelle Hollande: Île des Kangaroos, part of the atlas to Voyage de découvertes aux Terres Australes, the official account of Nicolas Baudin's expedition to Australia between 1800 and 1804. Lesueur sailed aboard Le Géographe and, working alongside the zoologist François Péron, became the expedition's natural history artist. Together they collected more than 100,000 specimens and Lesueur produced around 1,500 drawings, among the most precise and beautiful records of Australian fauna made in the period.
The emus he documented on Kangaroo Island are now understood to be a dwarf emu that is today extinct, which makes this family scene both a work of art and a quiet record of a species we have lost. Live birds from the voyage were taken back to France and kept in the grounds of Malmaison, the estate of Empress Joséphine. Reproductions like this one carry that history of curiosity, science and wonder.
Each print is made to order and printed on museum quality etching paper for depth of tone and a soft tactile surface that suits the original drawing. Choose from three sizes, A4, A3 or A2, to suit a gallery wall, a study, a hallway or a considered gift. Because every print is produced individually, please allow 7 to 14 days for printing before dispatch.
Backed by the reputation of the Australian Museum, Australia's first museum, this is an authentic and ethically produced piece for collectors, gift givers and lovers of natural history alike.
These high-quality, ready to frame archival images are giclee printed, on 330gsm cotton rag paper.
Due to the irregular aspect ratio of this illustration, the image will be scaled in the most appropriate manner to the paper size selected.
Please note: these prints are produced off site and require a processing time of 10–14 days.
Paper sizes:
A4: 210x297mm
A3: 297 × 420mm
A2: 420 × 594mm
Delivery costs are calculated at checkout and include the total weight of items within an order.
Orders are posted Mon - Weds. Standard post to Australian addresses will arrive within 5 - 7 working days from dispatch date.
For international delivery, please allow an additional 14 days
We hope you are happy with your purchase(s). But if not, we will exchange or issue a refund provided that the goods are returned in saleable condition.
