Francis Lee Jaques (1887 – 1969)

I knew nothing of Jaques’ life story, although I now know that in his youth he and his father trapped and hunted together, and that while still in his teens, Jaques purchased a taxidermy store used his paintings for bartering and did work on the railroad. Also, his subject matter extended far beyond birds, not only to include other wildlife, but rural scenes, railroads and much else. Few of the artists who so influenced me in my first quarter of a century of life had a more distinctive style, with flowing lines and curves that subtly reflected the art deco movement, but within the strictures of realism, and reflective of biological accuracy. The shapes of his birds did not always ring true to me, but when they did, they were superbly well done. It was his art that was featured in the book, Oceanic Birds of South America (by Robert Cushman Murphy published in 1936 that I so coveted as a child (and now own). He included actual seascapes with the birds – birds in specific environments – but still stylized and it was that idea that inspired me in my youth.  But most of all I was inspired by his use of contrasts in his pen and ink drawings. He was in demand, as well, for his background painting of museum dioramas. His name is often spelled “Jacques”, but apparently that is incorrect, and “Jaques” is how he signed his paintings!