1950s Song Thrush Watercolour by Charles F. Tunnicliffe

Details

Description

**cliffe OBE RA (1901–1979)

Song Thrush on a Flowering Branch, Circa 1950s

Initialled “CT” Mid-Century British Ornithological Watercolour

An original … Read more **cliffe OBE RA (1901–1979)

Song Thrush on a Flowering Branch, Circa 1950s

Initialled “CT” Mid-Century British Ornithological Watercolour

An original mid-20th-century British watercolour by Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE RA, depicting a song thrush perched upon a flowering branch and captured at the moment of song.

Presented in alert profile with its beak open, the bird evokes the distinctive repeated phrases for which the species is known. The flowering branch introduces diagonal movement and a gentle seasonal quality, balancing close ornithological observation with an elegantly resolved artistic composition.

Initialled “CT” within the lower margin, the watercolour demonstrates Tunnicliffe’s characteristic combination of disciplined draughtsmanship, natural colouring and sympathetic observation of avian behaviour.

Composition and Technique

The vertical composition concentrates attention upon the song thrush while allowing the flowering branch to rise diagonally through the image. This arrangement counterbalances the bird’s upright stance and introduces a natural sense of movement.

Layered translucent washes establish the bird’s form and tonal modelling. Fine linework and delicate dry-brush marks describe the feathers, beak, eye and bark, while warm browns and creams are balanced by softer greys and restrained blossom tones.

The pale, uncluttered background ensures that the bird remains the principal focus. Rather than presenting the subject as a static specimen, Tunnicliffe captures a living bird engaged in one of its most recognisable behaviours.

The resulting composition combines the descriptive precision of an ornithological study with the balance and visual refinement of an independent work of fine art.

The Song Thrush

The song thrush, Turdus philomelos, is a familiar British songbird distinguished by its warm brown upper plumage, pale spotted breast and musical voice.

Its song consists of short, clear phrases that are characteristically repeated several times, frequently delivered from an exposed branch or elevated perch. The bird’s open beak and alert posture make the behaviour depicted in this watercolour especially characteristic of the species.

The song thrush has long appeared in British literature, poetry and natural-history art. Its clear seasonal voice has traditionally carried associations with spring, renewal and the persistence of nature. The flowering branch complements these associations while providing a natural framework for the bird.

The Artist

Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE RA was one of the leading British wildlife artists and illustrators of the 20th century.

Born near Macclesfield in Cheshire in 1901, Tunnicliffe studied at the Royal College of Art in London. His career encompassed watercolour, drawing, oil painting, etching, wood engraving and book illustration.

He achieved widespread recognition through his illustrations for Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter and numerous other literary and natural-history publications.

In 1947, Tunnicliffe moved to Anglesey. The landscape, estuary and abundant birdlife surrounding his home at Malltraeth became central to his later work and provided material for numerous drawings and finished paintings.

He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1944 and was elected a full Royal Academician in 1954. He was subsequently appointed OBE for his contribution to British art.

Tunnicliffe’s wildlife pictures are admired for uniting anatomical understanding and exact observation with a strong sense of movement, environment and natural behaviour. A substantial collection of his studio work is preserved by Oriel Môn on Anglesey.

Provenance and Exhibition History

The watercolour was formerly in a private collection in Lancashire before being offered by Rogers Jones & Co. in The Welsh Sale, Cardiff, as Lot 224.

It was subsequently privately exhibited at The Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire, during January 2026.

The original auction tagging and verso labels accompany the work. It was subsequently acquired and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Dimensions

The visible watercolour measures approximately 25 cm high by 22 cm wide, equivalent to 9.8 inches high by 8.7 inches wide.

The overall framed dimensions are approximately 46 cm high by 40 cm wide by 1.5 cm deep, equivalent to 18.1 inches high by 15.7 inches wide by 0.6 inches deep.

All measurements are approximate.

Framing and Presentation

The watercolour is presented within a sympathetic later wooden frame, believed to be oak.

A cream double mount with a restrained line detail complements the natural colouring of the bird and flowering branch while providing visual depth and separation from the frame.

The work is professionally backed and secured. Auction and exhibition labels remain attached to the reverse, preserving evidence of its ownership and display history.

The picture is glazed and ready for hanging.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

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