A unique offering of eighteen original watercolours of Rio de Janeiro and the peoples of Southern Africa, many unpublished, together with a significant autograph letter signed by the artist
Watercolour and body colour on paper, most approximately 230 × 320 mm (or the reverse), all archivally mounted and matted.
A few trifling spots of foxing; minimal restoration to the corners of one image; overall in near-fine condition.
All of these superb images are titled or captioned by the artist, and many are signed. Rio de Janeiro and environs: Eight views, produced in 1845 in preparation for a never-published plate book to be entitled 'The Scenery of Rio Janeiro [sic] in a Series of Sketches by George French Angas'.These striking views show Rio before the bota-abaixo campaign of urban renewal, which saw much of the historic colonial centre demolished and the city's hills levelled. Their vibrant colours are a departure from the more muted palette Angas used in his Australia, New Zealand, and Southern African pictures. The views depict: the proposed pictorial title page for the book, featuring the castle gate of the Fortaleza de São Sebastião; 'Rio Janeiro harbour from the Convent of Santa Teresa'; 'Rua direita and the Candillaria churches from the gate of the Convent of Sao Bento'; 'Ilha das Cobras (Isle of Snakes) from the Convent of Sao Bento ...'; ''Rua da Conceiçao Braganza, Brazils'; 'Church of Santa Luce looking towards Boto Fogo'; 'Pharise [Pharoux] Hotel from the Market place ...'; and 'The Aquaduct [sic] & Santa Teresa ...' Southern Africa: Ten views showing the Zulu, Xhosa, Khoekhoe and Cape Malay peoples of Southern Africa, produced during Angas's two-year stay in Cape Colony and Natal in 1846 and 1847. They were intended for publication in his lavish plate book, The Kafirs [sic] Illustrated (London, J. Hogarth, 1849). Two are reproduced as full-page plates in the book, four as half-page plates, and three as uncoloured wood-engraved vignettes; one is entirely unpublished. The versos of two pictures include unpublished pencil drawings, one full size. Pictures of particular note show: Mpande kaSenzangakhona, King of the Zulu, reviewing two of his regiments (the Black and White Shields) in front of the royal kraal at Nonduengu; two young Zulu men, Umbambu and Umpengulu, in ceremonial dress; a Xhosa woman in ceremonial dress (unpublished), and a young Zulu boy, Koma Koma, playing a stringed instrument (likely an Umakhweyana). Offered together with an autograph letter signed by Angas, offering the African watercolours for sale in 1876. A fully illustrated catalogue, including details of each picture, is available. [19 items].
Item #146890
Price (AUD):
$650,000.00