A drawing of a plantation scene
Probably Surinam or Guyana, late 18th century
Watercolour on paper, H. 10 x W. 15 cm
On the right, two enslaved people can be seen in a hut and beyond more enslaved people working what appears to be sugar cane. On the left there are two white men walking, one holding a spear and the other what appears to be a bag of some sort and a bottle, and in his other hand a bundle of flowers. Strangely enough, these men are quite remarkably dressed, and besides they are walking on bare feet. The present work is probably a random combination of motifs drawn after images in books, and was sold as a 'souvernir' to Europeans visiting their 'investments'.
Watercolour on paper, H. 10 x W. 15 cm
On the right, two enslaved people can be seen in a hut and beyond more enslaved people working what appears to be sugar cane. On the left there are two white men walking, one holding a spear and the other what appears to be a bag of some sort and a bottle, and in his other hand a bundle of flowers. Strangely enough, these men are quite remarkably dressed, and besides they are walking on bare feet. The present work is probably a random combination of motifs drawn after images in books, and was sold as a 'souvernir' to Europeans visiting their 'investments'.
Part of the The Americas collection.
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With text reading: “This bird was seen in Mauritius by Sir Th Herbert about 1589 – there are Remains of the bill + legs in the Museum at Oxford – but.– it is near 200 years since any specimen has been brought to England. The Draw(ing) is made from a Dutch Painting in the British Museum – (?) J. A. says that it is eaten but the flesh is oily + unpleasant –”