Hoary Marmot (Arctomys pruinosus) by John Woodhouse Audubon, 1845

Arctomys pruinosus, Hoary Marmot — The Whistler by John Woodhouse Audubon arrives from the great age of nineteenth-century natural history, when artists and scientists worked side by side to reveal the living world with clarity and grace. Created circa 1845–1848 by the American artist and field naturalist John Woodhouse Audubon—son of the famed John James Audubon—this zoological plate captures the hoary marmot in an alert, lifelike pose. Set against a gentle sweep of hills and foliage, the animal’s textured coat and sturdy form are rendered with observational precision, reflecting the period’s commitment to both taxonomy and beauty.

Offered here as a museum-quality fine art print, this piece is produced on acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas for enduring color and detail. Choose from a range of sizes, add professional framing, and tailor the presentation to your space with personalization options from The Unique Maps Co.—from custom captions to adjusted margins and layout refinements. Each print is carefully color-checked to honor the warm, natural palette of the original.

John Woodhouse Audubon (1812–1862) carried forward the family’s legacy of art in service to science, contributing drawings and field studies to landmark projects documenting North American wildlife. His draughtsmanship marries anatomical accuracy with painterly sensitivity, placing animals in believable habitats rather than isolating them as mere specimens. This balanced approach helped shape the visual language of nineteenth-century natural history illustration.

The subject here—the hoary marmot, historically labeled Arctomys pruinosus and commonly known as “The Whistler”—was among the charismatic mammals that stirred public fascination with the landscapes and fauna of the American West and North. Works like this plate bridged scientific study and popular imagination, making distant species feel immediate and knowable while aiding classification efforts that were rapidly evolving at mid-century.

Visually, the composition combines a harmonious earth-toned foreground with a soft, receding backdrop, allowing the marmot’s rounded silhouette and expressive posture to take center stage. Subtle gradations of warm orange and honeyed yellow in the fur shift into mossy greens and muted browns in the surrounding grasses and hills. Fine strokes describe guard hairs and underfur with tactile nuance; the restrained, natural palette and gentle light lend the scene a calm, alpine clarity. It’s a timeless print for interiors that favor organic textures, natural wood finishes, and botanical accents—equally at home in a study, library, or living space.

This elegant natural history print makes a thoughtful gift for wildlife lovers, hikers, and anyone with an affinity for the American West and North—ideal for Christmas, birthdays, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or a housewarming for those returning from alpine adventures or national park travels.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.