Armed with nothing but his gun, his painter's box and a small boat, John James Audubon set off on a journey down the Mississippi River in 1820 to find and paint the birds of North America.

He wasn't the first person to study avian life -- far from it. But Audubon, who transcended mere scientific documentation with his romantically-rendered, hyper-naturalistic paintings of the osprey, great egret and other feathered creatures, was unlike any ornithologist who had come before him.

"He was very interested in every aspect of the bird, in terms of its habits, what it ate, where it lived," said Joel Oppenheimer, owner of natural history art galleries in Chicago and Charleston, S.C., that bare his name. "But he was intent on developing artistic technique as well."

Audubon was so influential that the National Audubon Society, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to conservation, named its organization after him.

Now, almost two centuries since Audubon's epic voyage, the Audubon Center in Greenwich is teaming with Oppenheimer to celebrate the work of the legendary naturalist in a new exhibition. "Exploring Audubon's Art -- Comparing Audubon's Watercolors and Print Editions" will be on view through Feb. 28 at the newly-established Oppenheimer Gallery at the Audubon Center.

The inaugural show

features 40 dramatic life-size portraits of birds captured in their natural environments. All the editions of Audubon's work from the 19th century -- Havell, Bien, Octavo and watercolors on loan from the New-York Historical Society -- are on view.

A partnership between Oppenheimer and the Audubon Center, the gallery is slated to host four nature-themed exhibitions annually. All the prints in the current exhibition are on sale, with 30 percent of the proceeds donated to the Audubon Center.

Oppenheimer, who carries dozens of Audubon prints at his galleries and is one of the foremost experts on the artist's work, described him as a "true genius in his field," who, "in historical context, took a quantum leap" ahead of established ornithologists when it came to avian illustrations.

"He elevated his work to the point where it was considered fine art as opposed to just illustration art or scientific surveys," Oppenheimer added.

What set Audubon apart was his focus on artistry and authenticity. Unlike the common method of many ornithologists, who prepared and stuffed the birds into a rigid pose, Audubon would kill his specimens with a fine shot and use wires to prop them into a natural position. Moreover, he painted birds in their natural habitats, engaging in everyday activities such as flying, hunting and nest building.

Born in Haiti and raised by his stepmother in France, Audubon took an interest in birds, nature and drawing at a young age. In 1803, he was sent to the United States, where he lived on a family-owned estate near Philadelphia. It was there that he hunted, drew birds and met his wife, Lucy Bakewell.

Audubon spent more than a decade in the dry goods business. However, when hard times hit, he was briefly jailed for bankruptcy. With no other prospects, he embarked on a voyage to depict America's avifauna. He would go on to earn acclaim with his two major publications: "The American Woodsman," published in 1826, and "Birds of America," published in sections between 1827 and 1838.

Up until his death in 1851 at the age 65, Audubon remained dedicated to conservation. It is that same desire to preserve nature and wildlife that Oppenheimer and the Audubon Center aim to pass on to visitors.

"It is our hope that these ornithological masterpieces will ... inspire and engage people in the conservation of birds and their habitats," Karen Dixon, director of the Audubon Center in Greenwich, said.

Added Oppenheimer: "When people see these pictures, and in this quality, it truly can inspire them to take greater interest in the environment around them."

The Oppenheimer Gallery at the Audubon Center in Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road. "Exploring Audubon's Art -- Comparing Audubon's Watercolors and Print Editions" is on view through Feb. 28. $5, $3 for children and seniors. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 203-869-5272,; 203-964-2238;