C. G. Finch-Davies
C. G. Finch-Davies | |
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| Born | Claude Gibney Finch-Davies 24 May 1875 |
| Died | 4 August 1920 (aged 45) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Painting |
Claude Gibney Finch-Davies (24 May 1875 – 4 August 1920) was a British soldier, ornithologist and painter who produced a series of paintings of birds of South Africa in the early part of the 20th century.
Life history
He was born in Delhi, India, the third child and eldest son of Major-General Sir William and Lady Elizabeth B. Davies née Field. His father later became Governor of Delhi and was awarded the Order of the Star of India, while his mother was said to be an expert on Indian snakes.[1] At the age of six, in keeping with the custom of the time, Davies was sent to school in England, where his scholastic performance was unenthusiastic.
Having finished his schooling, Davies joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1893 at their recruiting office in London. In that same year his regiment saw service in Pondoland in South Africa. They were sent there to keep the peace after that territory had been annexed by the Cape Colony. As a professional soldier Davies was posted to various remote places in the Eastern Cape, and this fostered an interest in natural history and in particular, birdlife. Within a year or two, he was collecting bird specimens and starting sketches and paintings. In his field sketchbooks he provided copious notes about each species he illustrated – at first his own field observations, but later augmented by information culled from books and scientific journals. His style of painting rapidly evolved to show great detail in the plumage while retaining a lifelike appearance. By 1905 he had produced some 200 paintings of consistently high quality.
1897-1913
In 1897 Private 1st Class CG Davies, with 15 others of his regiment, was sent to London to attend the
The president of the Ornithologists' Union at that time was
In 1910 with the formation of the Union of South Africa, Davies' regiment, now called the 1st South African Mounted Riflemen, was reposted to
Original plate by CG Finch-Davies
1914–1920
Davies' regiment was despatched to
By 1918 Finch-Davies was publishing papers on the birds of the towns of Okahandja and Outjo in what is now Namibia. He was still supplying specimens to the Transvaal Museum in exchange for access to their journals and preserved specimens, despite the difficulties due to his remote posting. The good news that his regiment was soon to return to South Africa, prompted him to take a month's leave so that he could visit Walvis Bay, to study the profusion of coastal birds there.
By early 1919 he was stationed at
Books
- Roberts Birds of South Africa (1940) – Austin Roberts (editor); uncredited use of plates by Finch-Davies
- Our South African Birds (1941) – Austin Roberts (editor); uncredited use of plates by Finch-Davies
- The Paintings of Norman Lighton for Roberts Birds of South Africa – A. V. Bird (editor); 'Lighton acknowledges influence of Finch-Davies', otherwise uncredited use of plates by Finch-Davies
- Gamebirds and Waterfowl of South Africa – Major Boyd Horsbrugh & Claude Gibney Davies (Winchester Press, Johannesburg 1978) ISBN 0-620-03017-8
- The Birds of Prey of Southern Africa – C.G. Finch-Davies and Dr.A.C. Kemp (Winchester Press, Johannesburg 1980) ISBN 0-620-04578-7
- The Birds Paintings of C.G. Finch-Davies – Introduction by Dr.A.C. Kemp (Winchester Press, Johannesburg 1984) ISBN 0-620-07459-0
- A Celebration of Birds (Natural History Books, Johannesburg 1990) ISBN 0-620-14819-5
References
- ISBN 0620056789.
External links
- Notes from NHM London
- Finch-Davies bird stamps
- Natural Selections : The African Wanderings of a Bemused Naturalist – Don Pinnock
- The Madness of a Collector – Getaway Magazine
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