Spotted Flycatchers 

Archibald Thorburn made this watercolor painting of spotted flycatchers sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image is part of a long tradition of ornithological illustration. The rise of natural history as a popular science created a demand for accurate and beautiful depictions of birds and other animals. In Britain, this interest was tied to the expansion of the empire. Explorers and colonizers brought back specimens from around the world, contributing to the growth of museums and private collections. Artists played a key role in classifying, recording, and displaying the natural world. Thorburn’s paintings catered to a growing public fascination with wildlife. They speak to both scientific observation and aesthetic appreciation. The task for historians is to trace the complex social, economic and institutional factors that inform the production and reception of such images. We can consult scientific reports, museum archives, and private correspondence to develop our understanding of the historical context of this painting.