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Export bar placed on first eyewitness painting of Niagara Falls Export bar placed on first eyewitness painting of Niagara Falls
(34 minutes later)
An 18th-century watercolour which is the first known eyewitness painting of Niagara Falls has been temporarily prevented from leaving the UK.An 18th-century watercolour which is the first known eyewitness painting of Niagara Falls has been temporarily prevented from leaving the UK.
The culture minister, Ed Vaizey, has placed an export bar on the 1762 topographical study by the British military artist Capt Thomas Davies in the hope that a UK buyer with £151,800 can be found.The culture minister, Ed Vaizey, has placed an export bar on the 1762 topographical study by the British military artist Capt Thomas Davies in the hope that a UK buyer with £151,800 can be found.
An East View of the Great Cataract of Niagara, which shows a horseshoe of plunging water, the ever-present rainbow, autumnal woodland and two native people in elaborate dress is important because it is the first known accurate picture of a site regarded as one of the world’s great natural wonders.An East View of the Great Cataract of Niagara, which shows a horseshoe of plunging water, the ever-present rainbow, autumnal woodland and two native people in elaborate dress is important because it is the first known accurate picture of a site regarded as one of the world’s great natural wonders.
It also has a wider significance, Vaizey said. “This watercolour painting not only provides us with the first glimpse of Niagara Falls, but it also sheds light on Britain’s achievements in 18th century exploration, military and topographical art. It also has a wider significance, Vaizey said. “This watercolour painting not only provides us with the first glimpse of Niagara Falls, but it also sheds light on Britain’s achievements in 18th-century exploration, military and topographical art.
“I hope that the temporary export bar I have put in place will result in a UK buyer coming forward and that the watercolour will be available for all to better understand Britain’s global role in the 18th century.”“I hope that the temporary export bar I have put in place will result in a UK buyer coming forward and that the watercolour will be available for all to better understand Britain’s global role in the 18th century.”
Davies, a Royal Artillery officer, is remembered for the skilled topographical watercolours he made during four tours of duty in north America from the assault on Louisburg in 1757 to a posting in Quebec in 1790 and covering the period of the seven years’ war and the war of independence. Davies, a Royal Artillery officer, is remembered for the skilled topographical watercolours he made during four tours of duty in north America, from the assault on Louisburg in 1757 to a posting in Quebec in 1790, as well as covering the period of the seven years’ war and the war of independence.
Christopher Wright, an art expert who sits on the committee that recommended the export bar to the government, said the significance of the draughtsmen produced by the military academy in Woolwich had only come to be appreciated by a non-specialist audience in the last few decades. Christopher Wright, an art expert who sits on the committee that recommended the export bar, said the significance of the draughtsmen produced by the military academy in Woolwich had only come to be appreciated by a non-specialist audience in the last few decades.
The Davies watercolour was made at “the very moment that Wolfe’s victory at Quebec had brought the whole of the continent’s eastern landmass under British control,” he said, which gave Davies “a pre-eminent place in the Woolwich tradition”. The Davies watercolour was made at “the very moment that Wolfe’s victory at Quebec had brought the whole of the continent’s eastern landmass under British control”, he said, which gave Davies “a pre-eminent place in the Woolwich tradition”.
Most of Davies’s work has already left the UK and the Niagara Falls watercolour will do so unless an individual or institution comes up with the money.Most of Davies’s work has already left the UK and the Niagara Falls watercolour will do so unless an individual or institution comes up with the money.
It was sold for £146,500 at Christie’s in London in April, part of a large collection of Canadiana owned by the late Peter Winkworth.It was sold for £146,500 at Christie’s in London in April, part of a large collection of Canadiana owned by the late Peter Winkworth.
The export bar was recommended by the reviewing committee on the export of works of art and objects of cultural interest (RCEWA). It was made on the grounds of the work’s “close association” with British history and life, and its significance for the study of Britain’s history in the fields of “18th century exploration, scientific and military endeavour”. The export bar was recommended by the reviewing committee on the export of works of art and objects of cultural interest (RCEWA). It was made on the grounds of the work’s “close association” with British history and life, and its significance for the study of Britain’s history in the fields of “18th-century exploration, scientific and military endeavour”.