Original hand-colored stone lithograph full title "Mustela Martens, Pine Marten, Male & Female, Winter Pelage", from the Imperial Edition of "Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America" by John James Audubon; printed in 1846 by John T. Bowen, Philadelphia.
 
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He is best known for his comprehensive study of North American birds and animals, documented in his famous books "The Birds of America" and "Quadrupeds of North America".  Audubon was born in Haiti to a French father and a Creole mother.  He spent his early years in France and moved to the United States as a teenager.  He traveled extensively throughout North America, documenting and painting the various bird species he encountered.  His book "The Birds of America" is a landmark in the field of ornithology, containing over 400 hand-painted illustrations of birds in their natural habitats.  The book is considered one of the finest examples of wildlife illustration and has been widely praised for its scientific accuracy and artistic beauty.

"Quadrupeds of North America" was written and illustrated by John James Audubon in collaboration with his friend and fellow naturalist John Bachman.  The book features hand-colored lithographs depicting various mammal species found in North America, including bears, raccoons, foxes, wolves, and many others.  The book was published in three volumes between 1845 and 1848 and contained 150 illustrations in total.  Like Audubon's "The Birds of America", "Quadrupeds of North America" is renowned for its scientific accuracy and artistic beauty.  The illustrations in the book are based on Audubon's own observations and field sketches, as well as specimens from museums and private collections.

Audubon also founded the National Audubon Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats.  Today, the society is one of the largest environmental organizations in the world and continues to work towards protecting birds and the environment.