This small group of sketches of Lisbon in Portugal around the 1830s bear the initials J.H. The signature closely resembles that of James Holland OWS (1799–1870), who produced many topographical drawings in Portugal during his visit in 1837, some of which were published in William Henry Harrison’s book 'The Tourist in Portugal'. Whilst much of Holland's work is looser in style, his topographical drawings for reproduction as engraved plates (such as his contribution to an illustrated volume of Byron's Childe Harold) can be more detailed like the present drawing.
The drawings record rare snapshots of Lisbon at this time—its architecture, its people and life on the Tagus. Sailing boats—traditional canoa and bote cacilheiro—were so important to the transportation of merchandise, people and fish between the two banks of the river, between the river mouth and Riba-Tejo, and between the coast and the interior. Frigates were a sign of the large naval presence on the river at this time.
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. The Tagus River was the centre of Britain's Atlantic strategic control throughout the Napoleonic Wars.
