One-man crusade to stop sale of Audubon painting

Retired surgeon and historian John Chalmers has written to the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) pleading with it not to sell a painting by John James Audubon.

Early indications are that Wild Turkey Cock, Hen and Young, which Audubon showed in Edinburgh in 1826 before gifting it to the academy, could sell for 1 million or more if a licence is granted to export it to the US, according to RSA secretary Arthur Watson.

But Dr Chalmers wrote: "There is no doubt that the painting could command a very high price at auction, but the loss to Edinburgh would be immeasurable. I do hope and pray that the RSA will reconsider its intention to sell."

The French-American naturalist, painter and ornithologist came to Britain from the US in 1826, aged 41, to have his collection of bird drawings engraved, and soon found his way to Edinburgh. There he met William Home Lizars, a painter and engraver, and started work on what would become his life's biggest achievement, his book Birds of America. Last year a copy of the work, with 1,000 illustrations, sold for more than 7m.

Audubon wrote the text for the book with the help of Edinburgh curator William McGillivary. His painting was shown as part of an exhibition at the Royal Institution, now the RSA, in 1826, and was given as a gift by way of a thank-you. The RSA made him an honorary member.

"It deserves to be on permanent display somewhere in the city, so that the people of Edinburgh and the many visitors from America might be aware of the vital role which this city played in Audubon's great achievement," Dr Chalmers said.

Dr Chalmers is the author of Audubon in Edinburgh, which tells how his early success in the city set him on the road to artistic and scientific fame.