New National Gallery Exhibition Explores 19th Century Jamaican Art History
Press Release
This summer the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) is collaborating with local collectors Hugh and Pam Hart to bring their unparalleled collection of 19th-century Jamaican landscape prints into the public eye.
Paradise (re)Visited features over 40 lithographs by renowned watercolourist Joseph Bartholomew Kidd, with supporting works by artists Adolphe Duperly, Louis Belanger, James Robertson, Captain Whitty, P. Cartwright and James Hakewill; all well-known landscape painters based in Jamaica during the1800s. Their chosen subject matter is varied, ranging from architecture and landscapes, to commerce and social scenes, providing us with a comprehensive view of the Jamaican environment in the last days of the pre-emancipation era. Connections may also be drawn with the Caymanian history given our close connection to our neighbours during this period.
“This collection illustrates the work of itinerant artists, predominantly British, who travelled to this Jamaica to seek out new and exotic landscapes. It was their vision of ‘Paradise’ that was reproduced throughout Europe providing the earliest ‘popular’ understanding of the Caribbean region in the West and prefiguring the later trend for romantic landscapes in the 19th century,” explains NGCI Director, Natalie Coleman, who has curated the exhibition.
“Aside from the sheer beauty of this visual essay the work provides a poignant insight into life at this time. It will be of interest for visitors of all ages”
The extensive compilation of works has been graciously loaned to the National Gallery from the personal collection of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh and Pamela Hart.
The public is invited to view this historic exhibition at the National Gallery from Friday August 7th until 7th October 2009. Opening hours for the Gallery are Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturdays 11:00am to 4:00pm. For more information on this and other NGCI events log on to the website www.nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111.