Temminck’s Tragopan 1918 - 1922

Archibald Thorburn painted this Temminck’s Tragopan, maybe in the late 19th or early 20th century, with meticulous detail and delicate washes. I can imagine Thorburn, patiently observing these beautiful birds in their natural habitat. What was he thinking as he painted each feather, each scale on their feet? Did he feel a sense of responsibility to capture their essence, to share their beauty with the world? I notice the way he built up the colours with tiny strokes—the red, the black, the blue—and then the soft dapples of white. It’s a gentle dance of brush on paper, breathing life into these creatures. It reminds me of Audubon, but with a softer touch, a more tender gaze. Like all artists, Thorburn was in conversation with those who came before, learning from their techniques, adding his own voice to the chorus. Painting is like that: a constant exchange, each artist building on the discoveries of the past, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.