A superb oil on board by one of the great Victorian painters Richard Ansdell RA (1815-1885). The painting is a still life but typically for Ansdell it does have a hunting theme with dead game birds. The work is as would be expected of this artist is superb and the detail stunning.Richard Ansdell was born in Liverpool, he specialised in sporting and animal painting in the manner of Landseer. He began studying painting in 1836 and by 1840 he was exhibiting at the Royal Academy. He painted many Scottish scenes after the highland vogue but also travelled in Spain and later painted large Spanish historical scenes. He often collaborated with other artists including Thomas Creswick and W.P.Frith. Ansdell exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1840-85 with a staggering 149 works, he was elected ARA in 1861 and full RA in 1870. He was one of the great animal painters of the nineteenth century second only to Landseer.The painting has been professionally cleaned and is in good untouched cond...