"Partridges in a Winter Landscape"

by Archibald Thorburn

Gouttelette Print

Paper Size: 18 x 36 ins / 46 x 90 cm

Image Size: 18 x 36 ins / 46 x 90 cm

Archibald Thorburn wrote: Looking at things with the eye of the ordinary lover of nature, one can only attempt to represent with brush and pencil the wonderful beauty of the living creatures around us. The chief essential is to acquire the faculty of observing and noting down the many subtle differences in toes and little tricks of habit in different species, and this knowledge can only be obtained by patient watching. Partridges belong to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are medium-sized gamebirds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. They are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North America and are non-migratory. According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when Daedalus threw his nephew, Perdix, off a roof in a fit of jealous rage. Partridges also famously feature in the Christmas carol "The 12 Days of Christmas", where it is used in the line, "A Partridge in a Pear Tree"

watermarks do not appear on actual prints