tan bird with muted yellow at top of tailfeathers, in profile from PL, on a branch; light blue, green and tan mottled background of leaves against the sky

Cuckoo, c. 1915-1926

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Gift of Marla J. Kinneyexpand_more  2018.43.15

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If Allen Seaby’s cuckoo has a slight feel of a scientific specimen, that’s because it was modeled after a painting he did for The British Bird Book (1910–13), a survey of bird behavior. He depicted his subject making its “cuckoo” sound, which, as the text explains, is “uttered with the bill closed, or almost so.”

This rare proof of Cuckoo shows Seaby trying out a caramel-colored background. He ultimately decided on blue-green, but with an added swipe of dark, wet color behind the bird’s breast to set it off. (Mia 2018.43.16)

Details
Title
Cuckoo
Artist Life
1867–1953
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2018.43.15
Provenance
(Michael Campbell, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, until 2017; sold to Kinney); Marla J. Kinney, Minneapolis (2017-18)
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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tan bird with muted yellow at top of tailfeathers, in profile from PL, on a branch; light blue, green and tan mottled background of leaves against the sky
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