THORBURN, Archibald (British, 1860-1935). Bird of Prey.

THORBURN, Archibald (British, 1860-1935)
Bird of Prey
Watercolor and gouache on blue paper
Signed lower right “A.T.”
Paper Size: 5 x 6 in Frame size: 12 3/4 x 13 3/4

Archibald Thorburn lived in the final phase of the era of great illustrated bird books. He was undoubtedly the most popular bird artist of his generation. He contributed splendid illustrations to publications including Henry Eeles Dresser’s A History of the Birds of Europe, Charles William Beebe’s A Monograph of Pheasants, Leonard Irby’s Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar, Lord Thomas Lilford’s Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Isles, as well as his books, notably British Birds and A Naturalist’s Sketchbook.