English School, 18th Century

There is a version of this composition at Erddig, Wrexham (National Trust) and others appeared on the art market in 1961, 1987 and 1990. The picture at Erddig was formerly identified as a portrait of Matthew James Hutton, father of James Hutton, from whose collection it came, however it is now catalogued as The Bird's Nester and believed to be a copy after a 17th-century original (possibly by Isaac Fuller c. 1606-1672). An attribution to Trajan Hughes (active 1709-1712) has been suggested for the Erddig picture. Alastair Laing, to whom we are grateful, has suggested that the present picture is the best of the known versions of this composition.

22 December 1951

'Called on Mr Claude Smith. I purchased a fine picture by Frans Hals of a boy holding a bird's nest. Of course I am a mad foolish person but my love of art is my excuse for these foolings.'

23 December 1951

'Put up my Frans Hals in the drawing room.'
Professor Sir Albert Richardson, P.R.A.