Exotic Birds and Fruit

Picture ... story

'I just got a copy of a print of the original Bogdani / Bodgany painting that is used on the cover of 'Exotic Birds and Fruit' [from here]', writes Sam Cameron

'It appears to have been called Fruit and Birds without the word 'exotic' mentioned anywhere and is exactly the same except that the album sleeve has been rendered somewhat darker in many areas.

'I suppose an album called Fruit and Birds would sound a bit crap, but who threw in the 'exotic' and reversed the object order? And is this all a clue to the meaning of life?'

Jonas Söderström sends in this 'little tidbit regarding the painter of Birds and Fruit':

Jacob Bogdani (Eperjes 1658 - 1724 London)
Born in Eperjes, northern Hungary, Bogdani came to England in 1688 and was soon taken up by the Court and aristocracy.

He painted flower pieces for Queen Mary's 'Looking glasse closett' at Hampton Court and supplied paintings for King William's palace at Dieren, Holland.

One of Bogdani's most important patrons was Admiral George Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough's brother, whose famous Windsor aviary provided the inspiration for many of the exotic birds that abound in Bogdani's work.

Mick Grabham interview, and a Keith Reid interview, about the Exotic Birds and Fruit album