Who painted Cuculus Canorus?

Cuculus Canorus was painted by John Gould in 1873.

Where can I see Cuculus Canorus?

Cuculus Canorus is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Cuculus Canorus?

Cuculus Canorus is associated with Impressionism.

Cuculus Canorus by John Gould (1873) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

The title at the bottom says *Cuculus Canorus*, which is the scientific name for a cuckoo.

This picture shows a bird’s nest on a rocky hillside. Four chicks are inside, peeking out. One chick is being pushed out by an adult bird with striped feathers. The background has tall grass, purple flowers, and a distant view of hills.

The title at the bottom says *Cuculus Canorus*, which is the scientific name for a cuckoo. The artist drew this to show how cuckoos push other birds’ chicks out of the nest.

Look up John Gould (British, 1804–1881) to see more of his bird illustrations.

Overview

Cuculus Canorus is a print created by English ornithologist John Gould in 1873, featuring the common cuckoo. Part of his broader contributions to bird study, this work showcases his detailed approach to avian illustration.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a specific behavior of the common cuckoo: an adult bird with striped feathers ejecting a chick from a nest on a rocky hillside, where three other chicks remain. This illustrates the cuckoo's known practice of laying eggs in other birds' nests.

Technique & Style

While specific techniques used for *Cuculus Canorus* are not detailed here, Gould's works often involved collaboration with illustrators, including his wife Elizabeth Gould and Edward Lear, suggesting a likely mix of detailed drawing and possibly hand-coloring, characteristic of 19th-century ornithological illustrations.

History & Provenance

Created in 1873, *Cuculus Canorus* is part of Gould's extensive body of work, which includes *The Birds of Australia*. The piece is now held in collections like The Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving Gould's legacy in ornithology and illustration.

Context

Gould's documentation of bird species, including the common cuckoo, coincided with the era of Charles Darwin's evolutionary theories, though *Cuculus Canorus* specifically focuses on illustrating the bird's behavior rather than evolutionary concepts.

Legacy

*Cuculus Canorus* contributes to John Gould's reputation as a foundational figure in Australian ornithology and a meticulous illustrator of avian life, with his works remaining significant in natural history collections worldwide.

Artist & collection

Artist

John Gould

John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist who published monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward…