John James Audubon was born on April 26, 1785, in Haiti (then Saint-Domingue) to a French father and a Creole mother. He developed a deep love for nature from an early age, spending his childhood exploring the forests and fields of France. Audubon's family moved to the United States in 1803, where he continued to nurture his passion for the natural world.

Audubon's artistic journey began in his late twenties when he embarked on a mission to document and illustrate every bird species in North America. He traveled extensively, observing and studying birds in their natural habitats. Audubon's approach was unique for his time, as he depicted the birds in lifelike poses and settings, rather than relying solely on scientific illustrations.

"The Birds of America," Audubon's magnum opus, was published between 1827 and 1838. The collection consisted of 435 life-sized illustrations of North American birds, each meticulously hand-colored. Audubon's attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of each bird's unique characteristics made his illustrations highly sought after by collectors and naturalists.