Sprague, Isaac
Isaac Sprague (September 5, 1811 - March 13, 1895) was a mostly self-taught American draughtsman and painter specializing in ornithological, landscape, and botanical paintings. Sprague was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, and apprenticed as a carriage painter with his uncle. During that time, he taught himself to draw birds, already being known locally as a talented artist. In 1840, Sprague met John James Audubon (1785 - 1851). Three years later, he accompanied Audubon on an ornithological expedition up the Missouri River, from which several of his drawings later appeared (uncredited) in Audubon's works. Soon afterwards, Sprague met Asa Grey (1810 - 1888), the foremost American botanist of his day, and went on to illustrate many of Grey's works in the following decades, including Grey's botanical report (with John Torrey) for the Pacific Railroad Surveys (Reports of Explorations and Surveys to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean). Much of Sprague's work focused on the flora, fauna, and landscapes of his native New England. Sprague's work, considered second-to-none, was among the earliest domestically produced high-quality scientific illustrations and helped Grey and Torrey become internationally renowned naturalists on par with their European colleagues.
Essential Work for White Mountains Collectors.
This is William Oakes and Isaac Sprague's 1848 collection of views of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, titled Scenery of the White Mountains. Aside from its striking imagery, the work was among the earliest published books to deal specifically with the White Mountains, making it highly desirable for White Mountains collectors. (more details)