BY SAMUEL DIXON, CIRCA 1755

These basso relievo pictures are two from Samuel Dixon's second and more ambitious set of twelve bird pictures, the so-called Foreign and Domestick Birds. They differed from the 1750 set in size and in the complexity of their compositions, some featuring as many as three birds, insects, flowers and fruit, and shells and corals. Faulkner's Dublin Journal reported on 21 August 1753 that 'Mr Dixon of Capel-street, is designing a most curious large set of Pictures', but it was not until 9 September 1755 that they were finished and ready for distribution to subscribers. Whereas the earlier set had carried a single dedication, each of the twelve now carried an individual dedication represesenting a distinguished roll-call of the Irish gentry. The works were offered in ebonised and gilt-japanned frames which survive in the present lot.