Fine Art Poster
From $29
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
A Cock Pheasant - Archibald Thorburn
Regular price
$29.00 USD
Sale price
$29.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A detailed watercolour study of a cock pheasant by British wildlife artist Archibald Thorburn, capturing the bird's plumage and natural environment.
Archibald Thorburn remains one of the most respected figures in the field of British natural history illustration. His work is defined by a precise observation of avian anatomy and a deep familiarity with the British countryside. This watercolour depicts a cock pheasant, a subject Thorburn returned to frequently throughout his career. The bird is shown in a characteristic pose, partially concealed by tall, dry grasses that suggest an autumn setting. Thorburn utilised a delicate application of watercolour to capture the specific textures of the pheasant's plumage. The iridescent blues and deep reds of the head contrast with the mottled brown and gold feathers of the body. His technique relies on a controlled use of wash and fine brushwork to define the bird's form without relying on heavy outlines. The surrounding vegetation is rendered with a looser, more gestural approach, which directs the viewer's focus toward the subject. Unlike many of his contemporaries who worked from taxidermy specimens, Thorburn spent significant time observing birds in their natural habitats. This practice allowed him to convey the subtle postures and alertness of his subjects with greater accuracy. His illustrations were widely reproduced in various ornithological publications and books during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This print captures the specific colour palette and technical precision of the original watercolour, offering a clear view of Thorburn's approach to wildlife art. The composition is balanced, placing the pheasant slightly off-centre to create a sense of natural movement within the frame.
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.
Shipping
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.
Complete The Look
A Cock Pheasant - Archibald Thorburn
Regular price
From $29.00 USD
Sale price
From $29.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
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.
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
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
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From $89
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.
Premium Box Frame
From $169
A deeper solid wood frame: 33mm deep with a 20mm face and Perspex glaze. The print sits unmounted for a clean gallery presentation. Black, white or natural.
Canvas
From $59
Hand-stretched canvas with neat gallery-wrapped edges, giving the artwork surface texture and depth. Arrives ready to hang.
Framed Canvas
From $175
Stretched canvas set in a floating wood frame, our most substantial finish. Arrives ready to hang.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
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Museum-Quality Materials
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.
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