Artwork
Flying Quail
Flying Quail is a watercolor work on paper by the Art Nouveau artist Charles Whymper. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Flying Quail is a watercolour piece created by Charles Whymper in 1904, featuring two quail in flight amidst a grassy landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork captures the dynamic movement of two quail in mid-air, with one bird prominently displayed with outstretched wings and the other tilted, conveying a sense of motion and natural behavior.
Technique & Style
Whymper employed soft watercolour washes to emphasize the quails' movement and the play of light. Expressive brushstrokes suggested wind-blown grass, while a subtle, fading yellow background maintained focus on the birds.
History & Provenance
Documented in a reduced form in *Egyptian Birds* (1909, plate 28), the original work's current location is not specified in available sources.
Context
Created in 1904, the piece reflects the era's interest in natural history and ornithological illustration, characterized by detailed yet artistic representations of birds in their habitats.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Whymper spent years sketching birds in the Nile Delta, often with a sketchbook in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
