Pteroglossus Torquatus, from A Monograph of Ramphastidae or Family of Toucans

John Gould’s toucans are arguably the most striking and dramatic bird illustrations ever published. Gould, one of the most prolific ornithological artists of the 19th century, had a romantic enthusiasm for winged creatures, as well as a passion for natural history and an impulse to catalog. Drawing on his outstanding scientific and artistic talents, he embarked on a series of projects that would eventually make him the leading publisher of ornithological illustrations in Victorian Britain. Gould’s unparalleled career spanned five decades, during which he produced a series of books depicting birds from all over the world.