2 results found

 
 
SHORT, Richard

A View of the Bishops House with the Ruins, as they appear in going up the Hill from the Lower, to the upper Town

London: published by Richard Short, to be sold by Thomas Jefferys,, 1 Sept. 1761. Engraving by J. Benoist, after Short. Titled in French and English. Expert restoration. Sheet size: 14 5/16 x 20 1/2 inches.

A fascinating and very rare print from "one of the finest sets of Canadian historical prints ever produced. They are invaluable as records of the effect of the British bombardment during the siege of Quebec. Their careful and detailed draughtsmanship shows internal evidence of their accuracy, and gives a faithful picture of the appearance of the city at the time of its surrender" (Jefferys, 'Samuel Collection' p.35)

Richard Short was the purser of H.M.S. Prince of Orange, and served at the siege of Quebec in 1759. He was commanded to make a record of the city by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders KCB (whose engraved arms or crest appears in the legend beneath each image). Short's drawings were engraved by a number of well-known and highly talented London engravers and the results published by Short himself. The plates, according to Charles Jefferys, "reveal a highly intelligent choice of points of view, a skillful arrangement of lines and masses, and broad treatment of light and shade. In addition to their detailed realism, these engravings are admirable pictorial compositions." (op. cit. p.35). Above all they are the most accurate existing record of early Quebec in general, and in particular of the immediate aftermath of the devastating Naval bombardment of the city. "Antoine Benoist, born 1721 in Soissons, France, worked in England, and died in London in 1770" (op. cit. p.37).

Jefferys Catalogue of the Sigmund Samuel Collection (1948) 51; Spendlove The Face of Early Canada (1958) p.9

#23647$2,750.00
 
 
SHORT, Richard

A View of the Church of Notre Dame de la Victoire; Built in Commemoration of the raising of the Siege in 1695, and destroyed in 1759

London: published by Richard Short, to be sold by Thomas Jefferys, 1 Sept. 1761. Engraving by A. Benoist, after Short. Titled in French and English. Expert restoration. Sheet size: 14 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches.

A fascinating and very rare print from "one of the finest sets of Canadian historical prints ever produced. They are invaluable as records of the effect of the British bombardment during the siege of Quebec. Their careful and detailed draughtsmanship shows internal evidence of their accuracy, and gives a faithful picture of the appearance of the city at the time of its surrender" (Jefferys, 'Samuel Collection' p.35)

Richard Short was the purser of H.M.S. Prince of Orange, and served at the siege of Quebec in 1759. He was commanded to make a record of the city by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders KCB (whose engraved arms or crest appears in the legend beneath each image). Short's drawings were engraved by a number of well-known and highly talented London engravers and the results published by Short himself. The plates, according to Charles Jefferys, "reveal a highly intelligent choice of points of view, a skillful arrangement of lines and masses, and broad treatment of light and shade. In addition to their detailed realism, these engravings are admirable pictorial compositions." (op.cit. p.35). Above all they are the most accurate existing record of early Quebec in general, and in particular of the immediate aftermath of the devastating Naval bombardment of the city. "The engraving gives the church the name 'la Victoire'. Such was its original title, in recognition of the defeat of Phips in 1690. Later it was changed… to 'les Victoires', to commemorate also the destruction of the fleet of Sir Hovendon Walker and the consequent failure of the projected attack on Quebec in 1711" (op.cit. p.38).

Jefferys Catalogue of the Sigmund Samuel Collection (1948) 53; Spendlove The Face of Early Canada (1958) p.9

#23648$2,750.00
 
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