Clara Maria Augusta Jane

We find that antique topographical views of the UK never cease to be popular. Our longstanding Collis collection, newly added to this week, is a prime example—presumably feeding that desire for connection in space and time that we all have. There is something special about finding a picture of a place that means something to you, filtered through someone else's eyes, rendered by someone else's hand, and—in the case of our pictures—in a different time. Our Collis pictures are small and modest, but communicate a connection with her home landscapes of the South West. Clara Maria Augusta Jane Collis (c.1826–1905) was eldest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Collis (1784–1849), who served—and was severely wounded—at the Battle of Talavera in Spain, during the Peninsula War. The Collis family lived at Upcott House near Taunton in Somerset, then, on Charles Collis’s death, moved to nearby Netherclay House. The collection includes drawings of these family homes, along with numerous landscape watercolours recording Clara’s extensive British tours.

And if you're thinking Clara Maria Augusta Jane is a mouthful, she had a roll call of the most spectacularly named siblings I've encountered! : Hector Crabb Bartholomew; Frederica Swinhoe [or Everildre] Louisa; Algernon Charles Lukin Ridsdale; Windham Trevelyan Browne; Sarianne Lucas; Gustavus Wheatley Berry; and Augustus Randolph Adolphus !!

VIEW THE FULL COLLECTION.

VIEW IMAGE 1: C.A. Collis, River Tamar, St Germans, Devon – Original 1877 watercolour painting (STOCK NUMBER: JM-255).
Image 2: Upcott House, Somerset;
Image 3: Netherclay House, Somerset;
Image 4: C.A. Collis, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset – 1857 graphite drawing;
Image 5: C.A. Collis, Duty Point Tower, Lee Abbey, Lynton Bay – 1877 watercolour painting;
Image 6: C.A. Collis, Blackingstone Rock, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor, Devon – 1891 watercolour painting;
Image 7: C.A. Collis, Bishop's Lydeard, Somerset – Original 1856 watercolour painting