London.- An outstanding private collection of 15 works by Archibald Thorburn will feature in the next 19th Century Paintings auction at Bonhams New Bond Street on 13th July 2011.  This follows on from the success of Bonhams 19th Century Paintings auction in January, where “Covey at Daybreak (Partridges)” sold for £192,000 – the second highest price ever paid for a Thorburn painting at auction. The highlight in the collection is the magnificent “Peacock and Peacock Butterfly”, at 87.5 x 111.5 cm it is one of the largest of Thorburn’s paintings, and it shows a large peacock proudly displaying his extravagant plumage, in contrast to the delicate and beautifully detailed peacock butterfly in the foreground.  Hugh Gladstone wrote in Thorburn’s obituary in the Scottish Naturalist, January 1936, “of all his pictures…the most daring was a gigantic one…of a peacock in full display in front of a red rhododendron in full bloom; a gorgeous sunset and woodland as the background…I remember the whole as a riot of colour…both magnificent and accurate.” Thorburn later recalled how he had nightmares of endlessly painting the ‘eyes’ on the peacock tail feathers. Between 19-21 April selected Thorburn highlights from the sale will be on view in Bonham’s Edinburgh saleroom: 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh.