Italian-born American artist Athos Menaboni (1895–1990) was renowned for his exquisite depictions of birds, often accompanied by flora from their natural habitats. In a 1950 Time magazine profile, he was explicitly dubbed “Audubon’s heir,” and praised for capturing the “metallic sheen of plumage” with more scientific precision than John J. Audubon.
This year marks what would have been his 130th birthday, making the Fall season a special time to reflect on his artistic legacy, especially in South Georgia, where his connection to conservation and beautiful depictions of the area’s wildlife have left a lasting imprint on its residents. His humble, but incredibly active artistic career spanned over 63 years, with no shortage of assistance from his dedicated wife, Sara Menaboni, in promoting his work.
Menaboni was born and raised in Livorno, Italy, and trained as a muralist before immigrating to the United States in 1921. Settling in Georgia, he eventually became celebrated for his detailed, vibrant paintings of native bird species, which were admired for their scientific accuracy and artistic beauty.
During his impressive career, Menaboni painted over 160 species of birds, mostly native to North America, with a particular emphasis on species from the southeastern United States.
A key figure in Menaboni’s life was Robert W. Woodruff, the longtime president of The Coca-Cola Company and a major philanthropist. The two formed a close friendship, and Woodruff became Menaboni’s most significant patron. Their bond had a profound impact on South Georgia, particularly at Ichauway Plantation—Woodruff’s expansive ecological preserve in Baker County.
Menaboni visited Ichauway, inspiring him to capture the rich biodiversity of the region in his work. His art not only celebrated the beauty of South Georgia’s landscape but also helped promote Woodruff’s vision of conservation and environmental stewardship.
Through the efforts of Joseph W. Jones, longtime associate of Woodruff and senior vice president at The Coca Cola Company, that vision continues through what is now known as the Jones Center at Ichauway. It has become a nationally recognized center for ecological research and conservation of the longleaf pine and the Coastal Plain.
Featured in this exhibition are 12 Christmas cards loaned by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation from their home at the Jones Center at Ichauway, in addition to the five works in the AMA’s permanent collection. Menaboni began creating these Christmas cards on commission from Woodruff, and the beloved exchange became an annual tradition for years.
One such Christmas card from 1948 features the Georgia state bird and flower, the Brown Thrasher and Cherokee Rose. In 1950, Woodruff generously paid for lithographs of the work to be distributed to every public school and library in the state.
The AMA has one such lithograph in its collection, donated by Bee and Anna Louise McCormack, though it is unknown precisely from which school or library it originated.
Menaboni’s contributions to wildlife art underscore a lifetime devoted to capturing nature’s grace. As we celebrate his 130th birthday in 2025, his legacy endures in the art he left behind and the landscapes he loved, particularly those in South Georgia, where his friendship with Woodruff helped preserve a vital part of the state’s natural heritage.
