Elizabeth Gould

Elizabeth Gould (1804–1841), English, Elizabeth Gould, born Elizabeth Coxen on 18 July 1804 in Ramsgate, England, emerged as a pivotal figure in the natural history movement through her exquisite illustrations and lithographs. Her artistic journey began in a Victorian England where botany and natural history were integral to the education of middle-class girls, fostering her early interest and skill in drawing. At the age of twenty-two, while working as a governess in London, Elizabeth met John Gould, a naturalist, through her brother Charles Coxen, leading to their marriage in 1829. This partnership marked the beginning of her professional career, where she contributed significantly to ornithological works, including her first published work in 1832, 'A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains'. Elizabeth's collaboration with her husband extended to learning lithography, a skill she honed with the guidance of Edward Lear, a notable artist and natural historian of the time. Her legacy includes over 650 works, with notable contributions to 'The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle' and 'The Birds of Australia', showcasing her meticulous attention to detail and profound impact on ornithological illustration. Elizabeth Gould's life, though brief, was marked by her dedication to art and science, leaving an indelible mark on the natural history movement.