Lot 225: Emeric Essex Vidal (British, 1791-1861) View of the Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

View of the Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
signed with initials 'E.E.V.' (verso),
watercolour over traces of pencil
25.7 x 32.5cm (10 1/8 x 12 13/16in).

PROVENANCE:
By descent through the artist's family

Vidal was a paymaster in the Royal Navy who was employed on the South American Station between 1808 and 1837. He visited Rio de Janeiro on three occasions on board HMS Ganges and painted large panoramas of the city circa 1828 (Paulo Geyer Collection, Rio de Janeiro) as well as other Brazilian subjects. He also produced illustrations for Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Montevideo, published by Ackerman in 1820.

The present work has been passed by family descent to the artist's great-great grandson and is thought to date from his first or second trip in the 1820s. In strong colour, it depicts the Corcovado where the statue of Christ now stands, and on the left the flat topped Pedra da Gávea.