A Graduate of Pomona
William Henry Hunt, Long Tailed Tit's Nest,with May Blossom and Holly, c. 1838
Long Tailed Tit's Nest with May Blossom and Holly
London, The British Museum
Watercolor, bodycolor, and gum arabic
8 7/8 X 12 3/4 in., 22.4 X 32.3 cm.
Provenance:
John Clowes Grundy (S)4 May 1872, Lot469 (P) Rev. C.J. Sale, by whom bequeathed to the British Museum in 1915.
Almost all of the birds' nests painted by William Henry Hunt were the typical, round nests which are usually encountered in nature. This very interesting and skillfully painted watercolor in the British Museum is the exception. It depicts the nest of a Long Tailed Tit, which would almost completely encase the occupants. Hunt painted this work before he introduced his later, signature background type, which consisted of mossy banks of dirt against which fruit, flowers, nests and other objects appear to have either fallen or been casually placed. Even though the objects shown in this work are resting on a table top or floor, the composition is still very informal - more a scattering of objects than a grouping made for the purpose of being painted by an artist. But, on closer examination, it can be seen that the objects depicted have actually been carefully composed, but not in any conventional manner. Hunt carefully considered the color and position of each element so that the viewer's eyes are made to move across the painting, seeing each item individually in addition to seeing the composition as a whole.
William Henry Hunt, Long Tailed Tit's Nest,with May Blossom and Holly, c. 1838
Long Tailed Tit's Nest with May Blossom and Holly
London, The British Museum
Watercolor, bodycolor, and gum arabic
8 7/8 X 12 3/4 in., 22.4 X 32.3 cm.
Provenance:
John Clowes Grundy (S)4 May 1872, Lot469 (P) Rev. C.J. Sale, by whom bequeathed to the British Museum in 1915.
Almost all of the birds' nests painted by William Henry Hunt were the typical, round nests which are usually encountered in nature. This very interesting and skillfully painted watercolor in the British Museum is the exception. It depicts the nest of a Long Tailed Tit, which would almost completely encase the occupants. Hunt painted this work before he introduced his later, signature background type, which consisted of mossy banks of dirt against which fruit, flowers, nests and other objects appear to have either fallen or been casually placed. Even though the objects shown in this work are resting on a table top or floor, the composition is still very informal - more a scattering of objects than a grouping made for the purpose of being painted by an artist. But, on closer examination, it can be seen that the objects depicted have actually been carefully composed, but not in any conventional manner. Hunt carefully considered the color and position of each element so that the viewer's eyes are made to move across the painting, seeing each item individually in addition to seeing the composition as a whole.