Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope. To His Excellency the Right Honorable General Lord Charles Henry Somerset, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Cape of Good Hope

HUGGINS, William John (1781-1845), SUTHERLAND, Thomas (1785-1838, Engraver)

Edité par T. Sutherland, Pall Mall, London, 1824

A propos de cet article

Hand-colored aquatint engraving by T. Sutherland after W. J. Huggins. Image: (15 1/8 x 25 1/4 inches). Sheet: (18 1/2 x 27 7/8 inches). A beautiful, expansive scene showing the journeys of ships and other sailing vessels toward the Cape of Good Hope. The present image shows Table Bay, a natural bay located on the Atlantic coast of South Africa. Table Bay holds historical significance due to its strategic location and its role in maritime exploration and trade routes. The British East India Company established a refreshment station at Table Bay in 1652, which served as a crucial stopover point for ships traveling between Europe and the East Indies, providing fresh supplies and repairs. In 1795, during the French Revolutionary Wars, the British seized control of the Cape Colony, also known as the Cape of Good Hope, from the Dutch East India Company. The colony was subsequently returned to the Dutch in 1803 but was recaptured by the British in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. Lord Charles Henry Somerset, to whom the artist W. J. Huggins dedicated this image, served as the governor of the Cape Colony from 1814 to 1826. Under his term as governor, Somerset played an important role in British expansion into the Eastern Cape. When the British experienced a serious unemployment problem as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, the British government encouraged people to immigrate to the Cape Colony. This period saw one of the largest stages of British settlement in Africa. The present image shows masses of people arriving on ships, sailing toward the sprawling colony which can be seen in the distance. The artist William John Huggins was a renowned British marine painter who gained royal patronage for his artwork. He embarked on a voyage as a seaman between 1812 and 1814, during which he made numerous drawings of ships and landscapes in China and other locations. Settling in Leadenhall Street, London, he established himself as a professional artist, specializing in drawings of ships for the East India Company. Huggins exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1817 onward and at the British Institution for Promoting the Fine Arts from 1825. He became a marine painter to both George IV and William IV, producing notable works such as three large paintings depicting the Battle of Trafalgar. Known for his nautical expertise, Huggins's paintings are esteemed for their portrayal of ships, which were often engraved, as is the case here, further extending their reach and influence. Thomas Sutherland, the engraver, was a skilled aquatint artist, who specialized in hunting, coaching, military, and naval subjects.

N° de réf. du vendeur 38600

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope. To His Excellency the Right Honorable General Lord Charles Henry Somerset, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Cape of Good Hope
• Éditeur: T. Sutherland, Pall Mall, London
• Date de parution: 1824
• Reliure: Print
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Maritime & Military
  • Prints & Drawings