Charles Davis writes “from
The Guardian:
A filthy bundle of papers, which had been lying in a corner of the cellars of Balliol College in Oxford for at least a century, has turned
out to contain rare landscapes of 18th century Canada, including the oldest known views of the green hills and scattered houses
around what are now the cities of Montreal and Quebec.
The paintings, by a British army officer who was also a talented amateur artist, include scenes of Niagara Falls before it became one
of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.”
Charles Davis writes “from
The Guardian:
A filthy bundle of papers, which had been lying in a corner of the cellars of Balliol College in Oxford for at least a century, has turned
out to contain rare landscapes of 18th century Canada, including the oldest known views of the green hills and scattered houses
around what are now the cities of Montreal and Quebec.
The paintings, by a British army officer who was also a talented amateur artist, include scenes of Niagara Falls before it became one
of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.”The parcel was stitched up in coarse cloth and labelled “Drawings by Genl Fisher etc”. It was found buried in a heap of dull papers
by college staff who were clearing the cellars.
There was nothing in the archives about the artwork, but Professor John Jones, Balliol’s vice-master and archivist, recognised the
handwriting from having worked on the papers of Sir John Conroy, a fellow of Balliol who died in 1900.
Sir John’s great-grandfather was “Genl Fisher etc” – Benjamin Fisher, who served with the Royal Engineers in the West Indies,
Ireland and Canada from 1785 to 1787.
Despite his impeccable military career, Fisher came from an artistic family. His brothers were also talented watercolourists, and his
eldest brother, John, who became Bishop of Salisbury, was a friend and patron of John Constable.
Balliol has now decided to sell the pictures next month at a Bonhams auction of travel and topographical paintings.
The auction house’s expert, Giles Peppiatt, has traced their probable history from Gen Fisher through his daughter Elizabeth, who
married Sir John’s grandfather, though how they ended up in the Balliol cellar is unknown.
He says they are some of the earliest works showing the region, and are in “exemplary” condition. They are estimated to sell for
between £1,500 and £8,000 each.
Recent Comments