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Papeiti, Tahiti

Courtesy of a private collector | All Rights Reserved

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Date

5 August 1849

Artist

Robert Elwes (1819-1878)

Collection

Private Collection

Description

One of our passengers, Dr. Johnston, was mentioned in no very favourable terms by Herman Melville in his novel "Omoo" set in the South Pacific. We arrived at Tahiti after a voyage of 2700 miles performed in 27 days. The town of Papeiti, the capital of the island, is built along the beach. Later, I found a fresh water spring running out of a bamboo pipe in the sea. I rode into the sea, over my horse’s knees and quenched my thirst at the pipe.
This is a page from a unique leather-bound volume of Robert Elwes’ travelogue 'A Sketcher's Tour Round the World', first published 1854, (see page 226 for corresponding passage).
The book contains the printed text of the manuscript but remarkably, the monochrome wash illustrations are hand painted by Elwes. The book bears a handwritten inscription ‘Mary F Elwes from her affect. husband Robert Elwes Jan 25 1878’, dated after Robert Elwes became ill at Congham, his Norfolk home. On 28th January 1878 , their youngest daughter Violet noted in her diary: “Papa much worse”. Less than three months later, Robert Elwes died on 17th April aged 58.

Image Licence

All Rights Reserved

Image Credit

Courtesy of a private collector

Location

Papara, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Country

French Polynesia

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Mountains
Seascapes
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Category

Landscapes & Seascapes

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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform