Lot Essay
The Blackbird is the common garden song-bird, to be found both in Europe and in west and south-east Asia, rarely found far from woodland cover.
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Turdus merula (Blackbird, male), on a jasmine branch
Details
Shaikh Zayn-al-Din (fl. 1777-1782)
Turdus merula (Blackbird, male), on a jasmine branch
with inscription 'This Bird was sent to M<->r. Middleton at Lucknow from Persia by the Name of/[Bulbul] which is commonly given to Singing birds in Persia (not as it is vulgarly understood to nightingales only) it much resembles the English Blackbird but is something/larger and the feathers of the Wings are rather of a slatish than a black colour.' (upper left) and with further inscription 'In the Collection of Lady Impey at Calcutta/Painted by [Shaikh Zayn-al-Din] Native of Patna 1780' (lower left), numbered '102'? (upper left)
pencil and watercolour, heightened with white and gum arabic, watermark 'J WHATMAN', unframed
22½ x 29.3/8 in. (52.1 x 74.6 cm.)
Turdus merula (Blackbird, male), on a jasmine branch
with inscription 'This Bird was sent to M<->r. Middleton at Lucknow from Persia by the Name of/[Bulbul] which is commonly given to Singing birds in Persia (not as it is vulgarly understood to nightingales only) it much resembles the English Blackbird but is something/larger and the feathers of the Wings are rather of a slatish than a black colour.' (upper left) and with further inscription 'In the Collection of Lady Impey at Calcutta/Painted by [Shaikh Zayn-al-Din] Native of Patna 1780' (lower left), numbered '102'? (upper left)
pencil and watercolour, heightened with white and gum arabic, watermark 'J WHATMAN', unframed
22½ x 29.3/8 in. (52.1 x 74.6 cm.)
Provenance
Sir Elijah and Lady Impey.
The Earls of Derby.
The Earls of Derby.