John Elliott Woolford (1778-1866)

This First Series of a Selection of Views illustrating Nova Scotia Scenery; Perspective View of the Province Building from the N.E. …; Architectural Elevation of the Province Building; Government House from the N.E.; and Government House from the S.W.

Details

John Elliott Woolford (1778-1866)
This First Series of a Selection of Views illustrating Nova Scotia Scenery; Perspective View of the Province Building from the N.E. …; Architectural Elevation of the Province Building; Government House from the N.E.; and Government House from the S.W.
aquatints printed in colour and finished by hand, printed and published by J.E. Woolford, Halifax, 1819
8 5/8 x 13in. (21.9 x 33cm.)
(5)the set of four and engraved title-page

Literature

M. Allodi, Printmaking in Canada. The earliest Views and Portraits, Toronto, 1980, pp.34-43, nos 17-20: (‘In 1819 Woolford drew, etched, and published four views of Halifax. These were issued with a title-page wrapper – the first set of its kind to be printed and published in Canada. The engraved title page dedicated the views to his patron, the Earl of Dalhousie, and described them as the first series of a selection of views of Nova Scotia; however, no further sets were published by Woolford. … On July 3, 1819, the Halifax set was advertised as just published …. The Halifax views were etched in outline and aquatint and printed in subtle colours. The inking varies in each print noted. The principal colour of the subjects is either brown or yellow-ochre. In addition, two of the views show foreground figures printed in red aquatint, and some impressions are inked with a third colour, pale blue, to define the sky and trees. Woolford must have printed very few impressions of these rare views, inking the plate each time and experimenting with colour changes as he proceeded. As suggested in Woolford’s advertisement, most examples have also been coloured by hand. Despite the careful printing, the titles of several impressions noted are slightly off register.’)

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Lot Essay

For a rare set of these four etched views (First Series of a Selection of Views illustrating Nova Scotia Scenery) in the original wrapper, see Christie’s (London), 8 April 2004 (The Quentin Keynes Collection), lot 132, £28,600.

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