Fidelia Bridges Calendar Print – February 1876 New England wall art

Fedilia Bridges Calendar Print – February 1876 New England wall art Capturing Winter’s Charm: The Exquisite Fidelia Bridges Calendar Print This delightful Fidelia Bridges Calendar Print is the second in a remarkable series of twelve. Each image represents a month from an 1876 calendar, showcasing New England’s ornithological scenes. This particular reproduction, the ‘February’ plate, beautifully captures two black-capped chickadees (Poecile Atricapillus) as they frolic in the long, snow-kissed winter grass of New England. The poster’s design is a masterclass in delicate artistry. The muted, natural tones perfectly convey the crisp atmosphere of a winter’s day, while the intricate detailing of the birds and their frosty surroundings invites closer inspection. It’s a testament to Bridges’ ability to blend scientific observation with artistic grace, making this Fidelia Bridges Calendar Print not just a picture, but a narrative of nature’s subtle wonders. The Charms of the Black-Capped Chickadee Better known as black-capped chickadees, these endearing birds are a common sight in New England throughout the year. They are celebrated for their remarkably friendly demeanour and astonishing acrobatic skills. Often observed hanging upside down from branches or performing swift mid-air manoeuvres, their playful nature is beautifully immortalised in this Fidelia Bridges 1876 Calendar Print. Chickadees are truly miniature marvels, measuring about five inches long, making them one of North America’s smallest songbirds. Both male and female chickadees possess a distinctive black cap and bib that strikingly contrasts with their soft grey back and pristine white underparts. Their long, black tail is often held upright, adding to their endearing silhouette. Look closely, and you’ll spot two subtle white wing bars visible on their folded wings. These small, friendly birds are highly social creatures, frequently observed in charming small flocks. Omnivores by nature, their diet is wonderfully varied, including insects, seeds, and fruits. They are also remarkably adept at storing food, often hiding seeds in the autumn to ensure a supply through the lean winter months. This clever behaviour is part of what makes them such resilient inhabitants of the New England landscape depicted in the Fidelia Bridges Calendar Print. Fidelia Bridges: A Pioneering Artist The complete set of Fidelia Bridges 1876 Calendar Print was published by Louis Prang in 1876. These evocative scenic prints depict the New England landscape through each month of the year, marking Prang’s inaugural collaboration with the renowned floral and bird painter, Fidelia Bridges. This partnership blossomed, with Bridges creating works for Prang for over fifteen years, including numerous highly successful Christmas cards and prints that captivated the public. Fidelia Bridges, born in Salem, Massachusetts, on 19th May 1834, rose to become one of the most celebrated artists of the nineteenth century. Her remarkable career spanned over fifty years, an astonishing feat that surpassed the longevity of many of her male contemporaries. Unusually for women during the mid to late nineteenth century, who often faced significant societal barriers in a male-dominated world, Bridges was one of the few women to forge a successful career of any kind. Even more astonishingly for the era, Bridges, as a female artist, was able to fully support herself through her artistic endeavours—a achievement many male painters of the time struggled to match. In the spring of 1873, at almost fifty years of age, Bridges achieved another significant milestone, becoming the first woman to be elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design. She was also the sole woman among a select group of seven artists in the early years of the American Watercolor Society. In 1876, her growing prominence was further solidified when she was invited to exhibit her work at the prestigious Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, cementing her status as a leading figure in American art, as showcased in the Fidelia Bridges Calendar Print.