Prairie Wolf (Canis latrans) by John Woodhouse Audubon, 1845

Canis latrans, Prairie Wolf. Males. (1845) by John Woodhouse Audubon captures the sinewy grace and alert intelligence of the North American coyote at a moment when naturalists were racing to catalog the continent’s fauna. Created within the celebrated Audubon tradition of on-location observation and meticulous draftsmanship, this Victorian zoological illustration marries scientific fidelity with an artist’s eye for posture, texture, and environment. The result is both a study in anatomy and a vivid portrait of a species that fascinated 19th-century explorers and readers alike.

This edition is offered as a museum-quality fine art print by The Unique Maps Co., produced on acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. Each print is color-matched to honor the warm, earthy tonality of the original plate and available in a range of sizes to suit your space. Optional framing and conservation-grade matting are available, as are personalization and customization options—such as a classic caption line, a dedication, or bespoke sizing—to create a piece tailored to your interior.

John Woodhouse Audubon (1812–1862), son of John James Audubon, was a key artist behind The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. Trained in the field and in the studio, he brought keen observational skill to his subjects, rendering musculature, fur patterns, and lifelike attitudes with precision. His work helped popularize American wildlife studies for a broad public, bridging the gap between expedition journals and the parlor wall.

The subject here—Canis latrans, the prairie wolf or coyote—holds an enduring place in North American natural history and folklore. Highly adaptable and intelligent, the coyote was a compelling emblem of the frontier to 1840s audiences, an animal that thrived across prairies and scrublands even as settlement advanced. Plates like this served dual purposes: educational guides to anatomy and behavior, and cultivated artworks that brought the drama of the outdoors into domestic settings.

Color and design choices amplify that narrative. A warm palette of tawny oranges, sunlit yellows, and deep browns models the layered coat, while cool greens and muted blues in the background recede gently, allowing the animals to command the scene. Fine, hair-by-hair strokes articulate the fur’s gradation; broader, softer washes describe open ground and distant sky. The stance and diagonal flow of the figures suggest readiness and motion, inviting the viewer into a moment of watchful stillness. As wall art, the piece balances rustic character with scholarly polish—equally at home in a study, living room, cabin, or modern gallery wall in need of organic warmth.

A thoughtful gift for wildlife lovers, naturalists, and admirers of classic illustration, this print suits Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays, housewarmings, or to welcome home someone recently returned from travels in the American West.

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.