Oliver Clare Victorian Oil Painting Still Life of Blossom & Bird’s Nest c.1880–1890

Oliver Clare Victorian Oil Painting Still Life of Blossom & Bird’s Nest c.1880–1890 Signed late Victorian British still life with historic Haynes Fine Art provenance. Highlights: * Oliver Clare (1853–1927) * Signed lower right * Oil on canvas * Circa 1880–1890 * Blossom and bird’s-nest subject * Four blue eggs * Haynes Fine Art provenance * Golding Young & Mawer, 2025 * Ornate gilt frame Introduction: A fine late Victorian British oil painting by Oliver Clare depicting pink and white blossom growing from a richly detailed mossy woodland bank beside a bird’s nest containing four blue eggs. Clare’s painstaking technique is evident throughout the composition, particularly in the delicately described petals, moss, intertwined branches and woven nest. 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 Signature: Signed lower right School: British Catalogue Note: Clare repeatedly painted flowers and bird’s nests against mossy banks. Recorded compositions include examples incorporating apple blossom, primroses and nests with eggs. Several documented paintings use an 8 × 10-inch format, corresponding with the historic Haynes Fine Art label on the present painting. A related mossy-bank bird’s-nest composition is signed and dated 1882. The Bird’s Nest and Four Blue Eggs The largely unmarked blue eggs and clutch size are suggestive of European Starling eggs, although this remains an interpretation rather than a definitive species identification. The Artist: Oliver Clare was associated with Birmingham and belonged to a family of still-life painters. His father George Clare and brother Vincent Clare were also artists. Oliver became particularly known for finely finished paintings of flowers and fruit, often placed upon moss-covered banks. Historical records associate him with exhibitions at important British institutions in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Provenance: Historic F.R. registered-stock label verso. 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 33cm × 38.5cm × 5cm 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. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.