- 1
27 WATERCOLOURS OF BIRDS BY ELEAZAR AND ELIZABETH ALBIN, [EARLY EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY]
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
- A collection of twenty-seven ornithological watercolours. [early eighteenth-century]
27 WATERCOLOURS of birds (from 205 x 182mm. to 285 x 227mm.), some captioned in ink or with descriptions of the birds on verso, 3 signed by Elizabeth Albin, a few tears or repairs to verso, some cropped affecting captions, one dampstained
Provenance
Elizabeth Heron, signature in ink on verso of 3 watercolours
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
A charming collection of watercolours mostly found in Eleazar Albin's A Natural History of Birds (1731–38, see following lot), produced with his daughter Elizabeth as assisting artist. Most of the watercolours appear to have been made for the publication, being very similar or with very slight differences. The remaining watercolours, we have been unable to trace in Albin's extensive work. Three are signed by Elizabeth, while the others are unsigned. In Albin's notes to the reader he states "As for the paintings, they are all done from the life, with all the Exactness I could either with my own hand, or my daughters, whom I have taught to draw and paint after the life". Elizabeth was the first English woman recorded as a painter and delineator of birds.
Christine Jackson noted the location of known Albin watercolours in her work Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World: "two volumes of original drawings are preserved in Archbishop Marsh's Library in Dublin with 198 watercolours. The drawings from the Bradley Martin collection in the US were sold in 1989. A single volume of drawings was in the Chatsworth, Derbyshire collection" (Christine Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World, p. 132).
Christine Jackson noted the location of known Albin watercolours in her work Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World: "two volumes of original drawings are preserved in Archbishop Marsh's Library in Dublin with 198 watercolours. The drawings from the Bradley Martin collection in the US were sold in 1989. A single volume of drawings was in the Chatsworth, Derbyshire collection" (Christine Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World, p. 132).