Berr, England & France, Allies in Empire – Original 1854 watercolour painting

Berr England & France, Allies in Empire

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View the full Collection: Lindsay Harris Family Collection

An original 1854 watercolour painting, Berr, England & France, Allies in Empire.

This interesting drawing has the look of a professional artist but the name is indistinct, possibly 'Berr'. French in origin, it is skilfully drawn in graphite and enlivened with fresh dabs of watercolour in soft blue, pink, yellow, ochre and black.

The drawing shows a British naval sailor and French soldier with arms extended in friendship across a globe marked 'Asie', 'Afrique' and 'Jamaica', reflecting that the nations had become post-Napoleonic political allies, as both began to turn their attentions to acquiring new territories beyond Europe.

This is one of three drawings that we have for sale with the same signature, one of which bears the address '39 rue St Louis (marais) Paris'. In the 19th century, the Ile Saint-Louis in Paris was an extremely artistic neighbourhood. The composer Chopin and the poet Charles Baudelaire both lived there. The Hôtel de Lauzun (at that time Hôtel Pimodan) became the unlikely meeting place for the ‘Club des Hashischins’ (Club of the Hashish-Eaters), where members included Baudelaire, Honoré de Balzac, Théophile Gautier and Eugène Delacroix.

In graphite with watercolour wash.

Lindsay Harris Family Collection

This picture derives from an interesting collection of works that we have for sale associated with Maj-Gen Alexander Hadden Lindsay CB (1830–1887), who was an Indian Army officer. A number of the pictures in the collection are by Lindsay himself, depicting views in India and also in Scotland at Aberdeenshire, to where Lindsay returned with his two children in 1874 after the death of his wife, Isabella Harris.

Lindsay was born at Kandy, Ceylon, where his father, Colonel Martin Lindsay CB, 16th of Dowhill, was stationed. He was educated at Wimbledon and at Addiscombe, for which he was nominated by his uncle, General Sir Alexander Lindsay KCB (1785–1872). He served in the Bengal Horse Artillery and was a lieutenant during the Indian Mutiny 1857–8. He later served in the 2nd Afghan War and was awarded the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB).

There are also connections with the Yarker family of Conynger Hurst in Ulverston, Lancashire—possibly through the Harris side of the family (a Sarah Harris married Robert Yarker in the 18th century). Robert Francis Yarker (1804–1870), was a gentleman solicitor who was prominent in Ulverston, and there are pictures of the Lake District in the collection which likely relate to the Yarker family.

Of particular note in the collection are three beautiful French drawings with an indistinct signature, possibly 'Berr', and two exquisite Indian Company Paintings of buildings at Agra in Uttar Pradesh.