Lot 44: CHARLES COLLINS (C.1680-1744)

ORNAMENTAL BIRDS IN A LANDSCAPE, A SET OF THREE ONE SIGNED AND DATED 'CHAR. COLLINS.1736' (LOWER RIGHT) OIL ON CANVAS 14 1/2 X 18 1/4 IN. (36.9 X 46.4 CM.) A SET OF THREE (3) PROVENANCE C.M.T. HAWKINS, 1896; SIR WALTER GILBEY, 1ST BT, CAMBRIDGE HOUSE, REGENT'S PARK; CHRISTIE'S, LONDON, 12 MARCH 1910, LOT 82 (21 GNS. TO VORKINS). ANON SALE; SOTHEBY'S, LONDON, 12TH JULY 1995, LOT 125, (SOLD œ48,000). ENGRAVED J. MYNDE & H. FLETCHER, ICONES AVIUM CUM NOMINIBUS ANGLICIS, 1736, PL. 3, 8, 9. LITERATURE C. JACKSON, BIRD PAINTING: THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, SUFFOLK, 1994, P. 52. NOTES THE BIRDS ARE IDENTIFIED BY LABELS ATTACHED TO THE REVERSE OF EACH PICTURE (LISTED IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ILLUSTRATED, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) 1. THE COCK TWINGA 2. THE HEN TWINGA 3. THE COCK YELLOW WAGTAIL 4. THE COCK KINGFISHER 5. THE COCK TWITE 6. THE HEN TWITE 7. THE COCK SWALLOW 8. THE HEN SWALLOW 9. THE HEN REDSTART 1. THE COCK HEDGE SPARROW/2. THE HEN HEDGE SPARROW 3. THE COCK NUN TITMOUSE 4. THE HEN NUN TITMOUSE 5. THE HEN MARSH TITMOUSE 6. THE HEN GREEN WOODPECKER 7. THE HEN OXEYE CREEPER 8. THE COCK BUNTING 9. THE HEN STERLING (SIC) 10. THE COCK STONE CHATTER 1. THE COCK WHEATEATER 2. THE HEN WHEATEATER 3. THE COCK REDSTART 4. THE COCK TITLARK 5. THE COCK WRYNECK 6. THE HEN WRYNECK 7. THE COCK WILLOW WREN 8. THE HEN WILLOW WREN 9. THE HEN MAVIS 10. THE COCK BLACK CAP THESE THREE PICTURES FORM PART OF A SET OF TWELVE PAINTINGS OF BIRDS BY CHARLES COLLINS, THE REMAINING NINE OF WHICH ARE AT ANGLESEY ABBEY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. THE PICTURES WERE ALL OF A SIMILAR SIZE AND TOGETHER DEPICTED 58 SPECIES OF FINELY DRAWN AND ACCURATELY OBSERVED BRITISH BIRDS. EACH PICTURE DEPICTED 9 OR 10 BIRDS, OFTEN SHOWN IN PAIRS OF THE SPECIES, WHICH WERE DEPICTED IN ITALIANATE SETTINGS RATHER THAN THEIR NATIVE LANDSCAPES. JAMES MYNDE AND HENRY FLETCHER PRODUCED ETCHINGS OF THE SERIES WHICH PROVED VERY POPULAR WHEN THEY WERE ISSUED IN 1736. IN 1726, THE ARTIST, PETER CASTEELS (1684-1749) COMPLETED A SET OF TWELVE PAINTINGS OF SIMILAR COMPOSITION TO THOSE OF COLLINS AND ALSO ISSUED A SET OF FOLIO PRINTS CALLED ICONES AVIUM. SALESROOM NOTICE PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ESTIMATE ON THIS LOT IS œ40-60,000, AND NOT AS STATED IN THE CATALOGUE.