Maria Martin
Encyclopedia
Maria Martin Bachman of Charleston, South Carolina
, USA, was a watercolor painter
who provided many of the background paintings for John James Audubon
on Birds of America
(1831-39) and Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America (1845-48).
The U.S. Audubon Society
named a variety of the Hairy Woodpecker
(Picus martinae) Maria's Woodpecker, in honor of her.
, a Lutheran pastor of St. John's Church in Charleston, South Carolina
. In 1831 John James Audubon
became a guest at Reverend Bachman's house. During this month long stay, Audubon encouraged Maria to assist with paintings for his Birds of North America
book.
After the death of her sister in 1846, Maria married John Bachman in 1848.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, USA, was a watercolor painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
who provided many of the background paintings for John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
on Birds of America
Birds of America (book)
The Birds of America is a book by naturalist and painter John James Audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the United States. It was first published as a series of sections between 1827 and 1838, in Edinburgh and London....
(1831-39) and Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America (1845-48).
The U.S. Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
named a variety of the Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, averaging approximately 250 mm in length with a 380 mm wingspan...
(Picus martinae) Maria's Woodpecker, in honor of her.
Biography
Maria was born in 1796 to Rebecca Solars and Jacob Martin. As the youngest sister, she moved in with her ailing sister Harriet Martin Bachman and her eight children. Harriet's husband was Reverend John BachmanJohn Bachman
The Rev. John Bachman was an American Lutheran minister, social activist and naturalist who collaborated with J.J. Audubon to produce Viviparous Quadrapeds of North America and whose writings, particularly Unity of the Human Race, were influential in the development of the theory of evolution. He...
, a Lutheran pastor of St. John's Church in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. In 1831 John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
became a guest at Reverend Bachman's house. During this month long stay, Audubon encouraged Maria to assist with paintings for his Birds of North America
Birds of North America
Birds of North America is a comprehensive encyclopedia with substantial articles about each individual bird species.It was first published as a series of 716 printed booklets, prepared by over 5000 individual researchers, and made available in no particular order from 1992 through 2003...
book.
After the death of her sister in 1846, Maria married John Bachman in 1848.
Further reading
- Bachman, C.L., ed. John Bachman D.D.
- Bannon, L.E., Handbook of Audubon Prints. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Co., Inc., 1980.
- Bonta, M.M., Women in the Field: America's Pioneering Women Naturalists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1991, Chapter 2, Maria Martin: Audubon's Sweetheart.
- Coffin, Annie Roulhac, New York Historical Society Quarterly (January 1965)
- Corning, Howard, ed. Letters of John James Audubon, 1826-1840. 1930.
- Ford, A., John James Audubon: A Biography. New York: Abbeville Press, 1988. <