Victorian Oliver Clare Oil Painting – A Hidden Bird’s Nest Among Blossom

Victorian Oliver Clare Oil Painting – A Hidden Bird’s Nest Among Blossom

A charming Victorian woodland still life where botanical observation meets natural history.

Highlights

• Signed Oliver Clare

• British Victorian oil painting

• Circa 1880–1890

• Blossom and mossy woodland bank

• Bird’s nest with four blue eggs

• Historic dealer provenance

• Ornate gilt frame

Introduction

There is something wonderfully intimate about this Victorian oil painting by Oliver Clare.

Rather than presenting flowers formally in a vase, Clare takes us into the undergrowth.

Pink and white blossom appears amongst moss, foliage and crossing branches, while almost concealed at the lower right is a carefully constructed bird’s nest containing four brilliant blue eggs.

Their colouring creates an immediate contrast against the shadowy greens and browns surrounding them.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Oliver Clare (1853–1927)

Title: Still Life of Blossom and a Bird’s Nest

Date: Circa 1880–1890

Medium: Oil on canvas

Signed: Lower right

Catalogue Note

Bird’s nests and mossy banks were recurring features of Oliver Clare’s work.

Historical records reveal numerous closely related compositions, several in the same 8 × 10-inch format recorded on the historic Haynes Fine Art label attached to the present painting.

The Bird’s Nest and Four Blue Eggs

The eggs are intriguing from an ornithological perspective.

Their largely unmarked blue appearance and clutch size are suggestive of the European Starling, although this remains a possible interpretation rather than a confirmed identification.

The Artist

Oliver Clare belonged to a Birmingham family of still-life painters.

His father George and brother Vincent were also artists, and flowers, fruit and moss-covered banks became recurring subjects within the family tradition.

Oliver’s exceptionally detailed technique gives his small compositions considerable visual richness.

Provenance

Historic F.R. registered-stock label.

Haynes Fine Art of Broadway, stock no. 3463.

Private eastern shire collection.

Golding Young & Mawer, Lincoln Fine Art Sale, 5 February 2025, Lot 113.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Dimensions

Framed approximately 33 × 38.5 × 5 cm.

Condition Report

The canvas has been relined and retains extensive craquelure and other surface characteristics expected of a Victorian oil.

Its ornate gilt frame displays age-related rubbing, chips and small losses and is not represented as original.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

Owing to the delicate nature and historic framed presentation of the artwork, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.

International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.

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.

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.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

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