George Edwards (Born 1694) was an artist who was born in Essex, England. He was primarily an ornithologist, but he also depicted other animals in his work. In his early years, Edwards travelled extensively through Europe, studied natural history and gained some reputation for his colored drawings of animals, especially birds. The most notable of his mammal studies are lemurs and monkeys. Edwards made considerable contributions to the study of birds, and held numerous positions as a scientist and scholar. In 1743, Edwards’ first volume of his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds was published the; three other supplementary volumes were issued in 1758, 1760 and 1764 under the title Gleanings of Natural History. Edwards studied art in Holland, before he travelled to Norway where he found his true vocation. While in Norway, he studied the birds that lived in precipices and on the rocks, and with the materials he had collected, he applied himself to the study of natural history, and made colored drawings of animals and birds.
In 1733, he was appointed librarian to the Royal College of Physicians in London on the recommendation of Sir Hans Sloane, the founder of British Museum. Edwards drew miniature figures of animals for Sir Hans Sloane. Sir Sloane kept track of Edwards’ expenses and paid him annually for such. Edwards served as librarian for 36 years. Due to his commitment, he was chosen Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies and was rewarded with the Copley Medal. Today, several of his pieces are in high demand especially the framed ready to mount George Edwards art.