COMPANY SCHOOL LUCKNOW OR CALCUTTA, INDIA, CIRCA 1775-85

Details

A GREEN BULBUL (CHLOROPSIS AURIFRONS) ON A TREE BRANCH
COMPANY SCHOOL LUCKNOW OR CALCUTTA, INDIA, CIRCA 1775-85
Translucent and opaque pigments with gum arabic, pencil and pen on paper, Persian inscription in black ink below and numbered '484' in the lower right, the verso plain, a paper ticket affixed to the verso with Persian inscription in black ink, mounted, framed and glazed
18 ½ x 11 ¼in. (47 x 28.9cm.)

Provenance

Claude Martin (1735-1800), Lucknow
Charles Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool (1729-1808),
Thence by descent until 2001,
With Niall Hobhouse, until sold Christie's London, 22 May 2008, lot 20c
Private collection, England, 2008-2024

Literature

William Chubb, The Lucknow Menagerie: Natural History Drawings from the Collection of Claude Martin (1735-1800), London, 2001, no. 52

Exhibited

The Lucknow Menagerie: Natural History Drawings from the Collection of Claude Martin (1735-1800), Walpole Gallery, London, May 2001, no. 52

Engraved

Below, hariwa (the Indian name for the bird)

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Found across the India, China and Southeast Asia, the Green Bulbul, more commonly known as the Golden-fronted Leafbird, has a song-like chirping call but is also adept at mimicking others birds (MacKinnon et al, A Field Guide to the Birds of China, Oxford, 2000, no. 608, p. 257). As seen here, the bird has electric green plumage and bright orange forehead.

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