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EAGAR, William (c.1796-1839)
[Nova Scotia Illustrated in a series of views taken on the spot and on stone by William Eagar
Halifax: published for the proprietor by C.H. Belcher, no date but July 1839 - August 1840]. 4 parts in one volume, folio (16 1/4 x 11 inches). Title with lithographic vignette, 12 lithographic views after Eagar, 9 drawn on stone by the artist, 3 by Benjamin Champney, printed by Thomas Moore (11) or Thayer (1), both of Boston. Stab-sewn into contemporary sugar-paper wrappers, contained within a modern black morocco-backed cloth box, lettered gilt.
A very rare series of views by an artist who occupies an important place in the history of art in Nova Scotia.
Born in Ireland, by 1824 Eagar was living just outside St.John's, where he owned a 20 acre estate. In 1828, he sold the estate and moved into St. John's itself where he advertised his services as a silhouette maker and teacher of landscape painting. He finally moved to Nova Scotia in 1834, arriving in Halifax in July of that year where he opened a Drawing Academy. He became enthusiastically involved in the artistic and intellectual life of the city, painting many notable views of the surrounding scenery. The present work followed on from the success of his other published work: three steel-engraved views printed in Edinburgh, titled 'Illustrations of Scenery of Nova Scotia' (1837). William Eager travelled to Boston to arrange for the printing of his new series of lithographic views 'Nova Scotia Illustrated'. They were published periodically in four parts: part I in July 1839, part II in August 1839, and the two final parts (which were published posthumously) in May and August 1840. Each part contained three prints, with a lithographed title in part I (not included in the present set).
These highly-skilled and evocative views are now very scarce: the Abbey set included only nine of the twelve views, and Spendlove noted that the prints were 'quite rare' in 1958. They were enthusiastically received. J.S. Thompson, a local newspaperman, wrote: 'Mr. Eagar's first number of 'Illustrations of Nova Scotia...' has appeared. Its reception has given much pleasure both for the beauty of the drawings, and the degree of success which has attended Mr. Eagar's persevering efforts to get his work well-lithographed... We hail Mr. Eagar's work, for its own sake, and the artist's; - and also, because it tends to demonstrate how much beauty and interest lie within easy walk of Halifax, - it will help also to increase taste in this delightful department of intellectual effort, and to make the province better known, and more respected'.
We would like to thank Diane O'Neill for her valuable help in cataloguing this item.
Abbey Travel II, 620 (title and 9 plates only); J. Russell Harper, Early Painters and Engravers in Canada , p.100; Spendlove, The Face of Early Canada , p.33 (incorrectly listing title and number of plate, conflates Eagar's 3 steel-engravings with the 12 lithographs and includes one print by another artist)
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#12950 $15,000.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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