Fine Art Framed
From $220
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
Great Bustards - Archibald Thorburn
Regular price
$220.00 NZD
Sale price
$220.00 NZD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A precise watercolour study of great bustards by Archibald Thorburn, dated 1925, capturing the birds in their natural habitat with scientific accuracy.
Archibald Thorburn, a Scottish artist known for his precise ornithological illustrations, produced this watercolour in 1925. The work depicts the great bustard, a bird that had become extinct as a breeding species in Britain by the mid-nineteenth century. Thorburn often worked from specimens or field observations, and his technique here demonstrates the meticulous attention to feather texture and anatomical accuracy that defined his career. The composition places the birds within a sparse, open environment, typical of the bustard's preferred habitat. One bird stands in the foreground, displaying the characteristic plumage patterns of the species, while another rests in the grass nearby. A third individual is visible in the distance, partially obscured by the terrain. Thorburn uses a controlled palette of ochre, grey, and white to render the birds, allowing the natural colours of their feathers to provide the primary visual interest. The sky is rendered with soft, muted tones, suggesting an overcast day on the open plains. Thorburn was a frequent contributor to scientific publications and bird books, including Lord Lilford's 'Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands'. His work is valued for its combination of scientific observation and artistic skill. By the time this piece was created, Thorburn had established a reputation for his ability to capture the specific posture and character of his subjects. This watercolour remains a clear example of his approach to wildlife art, prioritising clarity and observational detail over stylistic interpretation. The work is signed and dated in the lower right corner, consistent with his practice of documenting his finished studies.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
Great Bustards - Archibald Thorburn
Regular price
From $130.00 NZD
Sale price
From $130.00 NZD
Regular price
Fine Art Framed / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / Black frame
Artist Biography
Archibald Thorburn
Thorburn's father was Robert Thorburn, Queen Victoria's favourite miniature painter. The elder Thorburn was exacting: he tore up his son's weaker sketches. Archibald learned early that accuracy was not optional.
He began as a sportsman, attending shooting parties at Sandringham and sketching the birds he helped kill. Sometime before the turn of the century he wounded a hare and heard it scream. He hung up his gun permanently and spent the rest of his career painting the wildlife he had previously hunted. The shift from sportsman to conservationist is the central event of his life, though he rarely discussed it publicly.
He worked almost exclusively in watercolour, deeming oils too heavy and lifeless for the task of rendering a bird in its habitat. He enhanced his watercolours with tempera and Chinese white, achieving a luminosity that made the feathers glow. Each painting is a field study: the bird is anatomically correct, the vegetation is botanically identifiable, and the light belongs to a specific time of day in a specific season. His favourite haunt was the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, where he first saw ptarmigan in 1883.
In his last years he refused electric lighting in his studio, preferring natural light and candles. He illustrated several editions of Swaysland's Familiar Wild Birds, produced Christmas cards that sold in enormous quantities, and became the most commercially successful wildlife painter in British history.
He taught Otto Murray Dixon and Philip Rickman, and when the young Donald Watson visited him in Dumfries and Galloway, Thorburn encouraged him to continue. The tradition of British bird painting runs through his studio.
He began as a sportsman, attending shooting parties at Sandringham and sketching the birds he helped kill. Sometime before the turn of the century he wounded a hare and heard it scream. He hung up his gun permanently and spent the rest of his career painting the wildlife he had previously hunted. The shift from sportsman to conservationist is the central event of his life, though he rarely discussed it publicly.
He worked almost exclusively in watercolour, deeming oils too heavy and lifeless for the task of rendering a bird in its habitat. He enhanced his watercolours with tempera and Chinese white, achieving a luminosity that made the feathers glow. Each painting is a field study: the bird is anatomically correct, the vegetation is botanically identifiable, and the light belongs to a specific time of day in a specific season. His favourite haunt was the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, where he first saw ptarmigan in 1883.
In his last years he refused electric lighting in his studio, preferring natural light and candles. He illustrated several editions of Swaysland's Familiar Wild Birds, produced Christmas cards that sold in enormous quantities, and became the most commercially successful wildlife painter in British history.
He taught Otto Murray Dixon and Philip Rickman, and when the young Donald Watson visited him in Dumfries and Galloway, Thorburn encouraged him to continue. The tradition of British bird painting runs through his studio.
Made to order
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Canvas
From $130
Hand-stretched canvas with neat gallery-wrapped edges, giving the artwork surface texture and depth. Arrives ready to hang.
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