To the Right Honourable George Dunk Earl of Halifax .This Plate representing the Church of Saint Paul and the Parade at the Halifax in Nova Scotia, is most humbly Inscribed by his Lordships most devote servant, R. Short

SHORT, Richard

Published by R. Short, London, 1764

About this Item

Engraving, after Dominique Serres painting of Richard Short's drawing, engraved by Fougeron. Captioned in English and French, with the arms of the Earl of Halifax. An important and very rare print from a "fine set . most important historically" (Spendlove). Richard Short was purser onboard H.M.S. Prince of Orange, and served at the siege of Quebec in 1759. In addition to his commissioned drawings of Quebec, he also produce a series of views of Halifax, the main anchorage for the British fleet. As a significant port city and a hub of commerce and maritime activity, Halifax attracted the attention of artists like Short who sought to capture its distinctive landscapes, architecture, and cultural scenes. Short's Halifax drawings were evidently worked up into paintings by Dominique Serres, Marine Painter to George III and an artist of considerable reputation and ability, and then engraved by a number of well-known and highly talented London engravers and the resulting six plates originally published by Short himself in 1761. Spendlove writes of the series: "the composition and design of the pictures is pleasing, perspective is good, and buildings are extremely well handled. Human figures are done convincingly and show action . they constitute a fine set of prints [and are] . most important historically." This plate shows a notable Halifax location, The Church of St. Paul's, also known as St. Paul's Anglican Church. This prominent architectural structure holds great historical and cultural significance in Halifax. Constructed in 1750, it is one of the oldest Protestant churches in Canada. The church served as a place of worship, providing spiritual guidance and hosting religious ceremonies for the local Anglican community. Spendlove, The Face of Early Canada (1958) pp. 11-12. Seller Inventory # 38370

Bibliographic Details

Title: To the Right Honourable George Dunk Earl of ...

Publisher: R. Short, London

Publication Date: 1764