Explore the fascinating world of the largest bird on Earth with our captivating collection of vintage ostrich art prints!
These free printable illustrations in the Public Domain are a treasure trove for zoological art and history enthusiasts. As part of our expanding gallery of vintage bird prints, which already include majestic depictions of herons, flamingos, and pelicans, these ostrich prints promise to add an extraordinary charm to your collection.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your wall art with original artwork or seeking original paintings that capture the essence of the common ostrich, our selection is bound to captivate.
From the dramatic landscapes of Africa, home to these magnificent birds, to the detailed portrayal of male ostriches in their natural habitat, each piece offers a glimpse into the beauty and mystery of the ostrich walking through the wilderness.
Fun Facts About Ostriches:
- Speedsters of the Bird World: Ostriches can run up to 45 miles per hour. This makes them the fastest two-legged animal on the planet.
- Remarkable Size: The common ostrich is the world’s largest bird and lays the largest eggs of any living land animal.
- Visionary Giants: Ostriches have some of the most prominent eyes in the bird kingdom. Each eye measures almost 2 inches (5 centimetres) in diameter, which helps them spot predators from a great distance.
- Unique Defense Mechanisms: Contrary to the myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when threatened, they lie flat against the ground to blend in. This behaviour may have given rise to the myth. When cornered, they can deliver powerful kicks capable of killing a human or a predator like a lion.
- Feathers in Fashion: Ostrich feathers have been highly prized, especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were used to adorn hats, boas, and other fashion accessories, symbolizing luxury and elegance.
- The ancient Egyptians revered the ostrich for its feathers, representing truth and purity. They were often used in ceremonial headdresses and fans.
How To Download The Ostrich Art Print
For a high-resolution ostrich image, click on the title above. A larger ostrich art print will open in a new tab, which you can save or print. All the illustrations are copyright-free so that they can be used for commercial purposes.
Vintage Ostrich Art Prints 1-6
Print 1: Autruche (Ostrich), from “Histoire Naturelle de Oiseaux”
This hand-coloured ostrich image comes from “Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux,”. A famous set of volumes edited by Georges Louis Leclerc, le comte de Buffon (1707-1788).
Print 2: Male Ostrich – Gordon
Struthio camelus (Ostrich), Robert Jacob Gordon, 1777 – 1786 pen in ink, brush in watercolour; over pencil or black chalk; double frame lines all around.
Baby common Ostrich by Robert Jacob Gordon.
Print 4: 16th Century Ostrich Art Print
Ostrich, anonymous, 1550 – 1570, pen and brown ink, with watercolour.
In the 16th century, artists – who had never seen a live ostrich – sometimes made the mistake of depicting the creature flying in the sky. This artist drew the flightless bird correctly, its feet firmly planted on the ground. Details such as the bird’s finely painted downy feathers and bare goose flesh on its legs are faithfully rendered.
Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt (possibly), 1596 – 1610
The lively, humorous air of this ostrich illustration sets it apart from other zoological drawings. With its twisted neck and perplexed expression, this comical ostrich has been tentatively attributed to fellow court artist Joris Hoefnagel, who painted the same motif in the background of two other watercolours once in Rudolph’s Historia Naturalis collection.
Vintage Ostrich Images 7-13
Africa, Philipp Andreas Degmair, after Johann Baur (printmaker), 1719 – 1749.
From the collection at the Rijksmuseum.
Print 8: Japanese Ostrich Drawing
Japanese: Bird drawing (16 leaves). From “Ran Entekiho” Volume 3 (Bunka 14/1817 publication) by Iwazu Otsuki.
Watercolor, gouache, and graphite with pen and black ink on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper. By the Indian artist Gangaram Chintaman Tambat, 1790’s.
Print 10: Coloured Etching of An Ostrich
Coloured etching of an Ostrich from South Africa at Zoological Society of London from the Welcome Collection.
Print 11: Stork, Crane & Ostrich
A stork, a crane and an ostrich. Coloured chalk lithograph from the Welcome Collection.
Vintage art print of a family of ostriches and their young from the zoological collection at Amsterdam University.
Print 13: A Pair of Ostriches Illustration
From the Historiae Naturalis De Auibvs Libri VI 1650.
Other Zoological Posts
You’ll find another vintage ostrich image under O in this pictorial alphabet of birds. An ostrich illustration is included in the Adolphe Millot bird posters.
Don’t forget to check out all the other vintage Zoological prints on the site. These include many other big mammals, including these different exotic varieties, as well as the big birds.
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