Dodo extinct bird Dronte Raphus cucullatus - a print by F. W. Frohawk, 1905 art poster canvas gift

Dodo Dronte Raphus cucullatus - a print by Frederick William Frohawk, published in 1905 in Lionel Rothschild's "Extinct Birds".

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. This plate engraved by Frederick Frohawk and published in "Extinct Birds" was based on the picture by Roelandt Savery in Berlin, but the wings, tail and bill have been based partly on Pierre Witthoos' picture of the white Dodo, and partly from anatomical examination. Extinct Birds (complete title: Extinct birds. An attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those Birds which have become extinct in historical times—that is, within the last six or seven hundred years. To which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction.) is a book by Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild (1868 – 1937) which covers globally extinct and rare birds as well as hypothetical extinct species. Only 300 copies of the book were published in 1907 at Hutchinson and Co. in London.

Frederick William Frohawk (1861 – 1946) was an English zoological artist and lepidopterist. Frohawk was born at Brisley Hall, East Dereham, Norfolk, the son of a gentleman farmer. The youngest child in the family, his interest in drawing and natural history was nurtured by his mother. At seven he spotted and caught a rare pale clouded yellow butterfly. The family moved to Great Yarmouth and later Ipswich where he found many interesting butterflies. After the death of his father around 1873, the family moved to Croydon and later South Norwood. He went to school at Norwood College and during this time contracted typhoid leading to near blindness in one eye. In 1880 the family moved to Upper Norwood and here Frohawk concentrated on illustration and obtained his first commission for illustrating The Field. Frohawk was encouraged in his work by Lord Walter Rothschild, who later bought his water-colours of butterflies. He married Margaret Grant in June 1895 who died in 1907 leaving him to care for two daughters. In 1909 he married Mabel Jane Hart Bowman and they had a third daughter Valezina, named after a form of the silver-washed fritillary. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society in 1891.

This poster is a high quality "giclée" reproduction of a restored antique original, custom-printed on Standard Single-weight Matt Coated art paper 140gsm or  Heavyweight Matt Coated art paper 230gsm (more of a thin card density), or superb Epson Matt Canvas 320gsm, according to your choice. We use the latest UltraChromeHDX pigment inks which guarantee 60 years of colour  permanence (up to 200 years fade-proof for colour prints).  This poster is suitable for mounting and framing, as well as direct display on a wall.