Annual Meeting Presentation – From Catesby to Audubon: Natural History Art and Olmsted’s Legacy of Nature

Following the Olmsted Society of Riverside Annual Public Meeting on Friday, January 16, 2026, David Oppenheimer will present From Catesby to Audubon: Natural History Art and Olmsted’s Legacy of Nature.

The presentation explores the parallel development of American natural history art and the nation’s evolving view of the natural world. This presentation will examine how 18th- and 19th-century artists and naturalists such as Mark Catesby, Alexander Wilson, and John James Audubon shaped the scientific and aesthetic foundations of American natural history illustration.

In Riverside, that legacy endures in the names of its streets, including Michaux, Bartram, and Audubon, which honor naturalists whose work reflected the same respect for nature that guided Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision. This presentation connects their studies of American flora and fauna to Olmsted’s philosophy of landscape design, revealing how both art and landscape sought harmony between human life and the natural environment. Original historic artworks and artifacts from this period will be displayed during the presentation, offering a rare opportunity to experience firsthand the images and objects that helped define America’s relationship with nature.

David Oppenheimer is the owner of Oppenheimer Gallery, located at 10 East Ohio in downtown Chicago. A fixture in the city’s art community for 56 years, the gallery specializes in natural history art, fine art conservation, framing, and publishing. With more than two decades of professional experience, David has worked extensively with rare works by Audubon, Gould, Besler, and Catesby. He began his career in fine art conservation and eventually went on to oversee all aspects of the business. Today, he continues the gallery’s long tradition of preserving and promoting the art of natural history for collectors, institutions, and the public.

Examples of fine art prints and interior views at the Oppenheimer Gallery