Possibly James Holland OWS Street in Lisbon, Portugal

An original 1830s watercolour painting, Possibly James Holland OWS, Street in Lisbon, Portugal.

This is a beautiful little sketch in graphite and brown wash showing a rare view in the historic old town of Lisbon, Portugal around the 1830s. The location is described as 'the Buenos-Ayres [sic] end of the town', which was the name for the Bairro Alto area of Lisbon south-west of the Estrella Gardens and east of the Necessidades Park (so named because of the number of its South American residents). The animated street scene includes people in local dress, a pack-donkey and dog, along with soldier figures, who may be either British or Portuguese personnel.

The artist is evidently British; the 19th century saw a close alliance between Portugal and the United Kingdom. In 1807 Napoleon's army attacked Lisbon, forcing the Portuguese royal family to flee to Brazil under the protection of the British Royal Navy. During the ensuing Peninsular War, the British army, under Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington), guarded Portugal and campaigned against the French alongside the Portuguese Army. There were significant numbers of British troops in Portugal at this time.

On thin card.