A distinguished taxidermist and natural history painter, Anthony Alder was born in 1838 in Gloucestershire. He developed his craft within his family's taxidermy business, travelling from London to Brisbane and then to Somerset, Cape York Peninsula, to gather and document specimens.

Alder’s career flourished in Brisbane, where the Queensland Government commissioned his acclaimed taxidermy for various exhibitions. In 1907, he was appointed taxidermist to the Queensland Museum. Additionally, Alder was a gifted painter whose work was widely exhibited throughout the late 1800s.

One of his masterpieces, (Australian birds) 1912, is a detailed naturalist portrayal of more than 30 Australian bird types, likely inspired by his earlier work published in The Queenslander. Alder’s talent as a naturalist and taxidermist shines through in this painting, displaying meticulous colour, detail and accuracy. His background landscapes — hinting at south-east Queensland topography — play a complementary role, allowing the birds to take centre stage as subjects.

Alder’s work is a testament to his skills and a significant contribution to Queensland’s cultural and historical fabric, immortalising Australian fauna in art and taxidermy.