SOUTH AMERICA - [William M. HUNTER, 1st Lieutenant]

[A series of watercolour views in Brazil and Chile, accomplished by an American naval officer, including two views of Rio de Janeiro, a two-sheet view of Valparaiso and two unidentified views of the South American coast]

[South America: circa 1820-1825]. 5 views on 6 sheets, pen-and-ink and gray wash, with white gouache highlights, on wove paper watermarked Hatman W. Balston & Co. Sheets measuring approximately 12 1/2 x 18 1/8 inches. Uniformly matted.

Housed in a blue morocco backed box.

An important group of South American views by an American naval officer and talented artist aboard the USS Franklin, the flagship of the first American Pacific squadron.

1) [A View of Rio from Ilha des Cobras]. 2) [A View of Rio from the terrace of the church Nossa Senhora da Gloria]. 3) [View a hilly shore line from the sea; at the far right two small ships are visible]. 4) [View a hilly shore line from the sea; two ships are centrally placed sailing toward a cove with buildings]. 5-6) [Two-sheet panorama of Valaparaiso]. Attribution to Hunter is based on similar views found in the logbook of the USS Franklin located at the Huntington Library. The log book was kept by First Lieutenant William M. Hunter on board the ship, which departed from New York in October 1821, returning in 1824. The 74-gun American war ship, commanded by Charles Stewart, was the principal vessel of the newly designated American Pacific squadron, tasked with protecting American whaling vessels on South American coast amidst the ongoing independence movement.

Item #24014

Price: $18,500.00