Robert Marsh Westmacott in South America 1851 & 1858
Robert Marsh Westmacott in South America and the Atlantic
1851 and 1858
Based largely on information contained within his various annotated artworks, we know that Robert Marsh Westmacott was working in South America during 1858 as a surveyor on the construction of a new railway line between Racife and the Sao Francisco River, near Pernambuco, Brazil. He also passed by Cape Horn in 1851, during the return voyage to England from Australia.
The following is a list of drawings taken by Westmacott during his time in South America. All the works are part of the National Library of Australia Nan Kivel collection. They can be viewed online at the Natipnal Library of Australia website.
* Pernambuco
1. Pernambuco Railway, the first tunnel 1 mile 3/4
[1858]
Pencil - 17.5 x 25.3cm - NK762/47. View looking towards the hill where the first tunnel for the Pernambuco railway was constructed. Workers and site office in the foreground.
2. On the railway, the birds are the gangangs of large size and will kill the largest snakes [1858]
Pencil & Watercolour - 17.4 x 25 - NK762/50. View of the railway line passing through the swampy land in the
vicinity of Pernambuco. Gangangs in the foreground.
3. "Jabato" Bridge. "Jabato" Bridge, Pernambuco Railway, all
of Iron. Built at Newcastle [1858]
Pencil - 17.5 x 25.3 - NK762/59. View of the all-iron railway bridge at Jabato, with a steam train
crossing.
4. "Villa da Cabo", nr Pernambuco, Brazils [1858]
Pencil - 25.2 x 34.6 - NK762/51. Scene of the road through Villa da Cabo, looking towards the mountain
range in the distance.
5. The wooden bridge which unites "Pernambuco" to "Saint
Antonia" [1858]
Pencil - 17 x 24.9 - NK762/57. View of the wharf at Pernambuco, with shipping in dock and residents
upon the street and harbour forecourt.
6. Coaster, Pernambuco, S. America [1858]
Sepia Wash - 17 x 25.5 - NK762/62. Sepia wash drawing of a double sail, coastal vessel, with four man
crew. Red streamers are flying from the mast.
7. Fishing Catamaran, Pernambuco, S.A. [1858]
Sepia wash - 17.1 x 25.5 - NK762/64. Sepia wash drawing of a single sail, fishing vessel. Red streamers
flying from the mast.
8. "Pernambuco" on the Coast of Brazil in Lat 8.5.S Long 34W
contains 60,000 inhabitants, the Town is large, streets narrow, some
fine Churches, some beautiful Villas in the Environs - a Ledge of Rocks
runs in paralel line about 1/4 mile in front for about 220 miles,
forming a natural Harbour, for vessels drawing 15ft Water. The Light
House stands on the North extremity, the exports consists of Cotton,
Sugar, Hides, Spices, etc, etc, 1858 The finest Diamonds come from this
locality. This is about the hottest part of the World, seldom under 90o
and often 120o
Sepia Wash - 11 x 34.1 - NK762/66b. A coastal panorama, adjoining NK762/66a, of Pernambuco, on the east
coast of South America.
9. The Yellow Fever hospital [1858]
Pencil & Wash - 15.6 x 24.5 - NK762/44. View looking across a harbour towards the Yellow Fever Hospital,
possibly in Pernambuco. Tropical palms in the foreground.
10. Town of " Olinda ". [1858] " Olinda
" - 4 miles from Pernambuco (North) appropriated to convents and
colleges. 8.S.Lat.
Sepia Wash - 11 x 34.1 - NK762/66a. A coastal panorama, adjoining NK762/66a, of the town of Olinda, on the east coast of South America.
* Brazil
11. Lake on the top of a mountain 20 miles inland and 2000ft
above the level of the sea [1858]
Pencil - 14.2 x 22.7 - NK762/52. View from the edge of the lake, looking towards a conical shaped
mountain in the distance. Two European figures with guns are included
in the foreground.
12. The Female Convict Settlement of Brazils. The island of
Fernandez Norohna 3 S.Lat 33.W. Longt. [1858]
Pencil - 10.8 x 58 - NK762/54. Coastal view of the island of Fernando Norohna.
13. Isle of "Rodondo", Brazils. The Island of "Rodondo",
Brazils, much infested with poisonous Snakes, Reptiles & Insects
[1858]
Pencil - 17.5 x 25.3 - NK762/60. View from the sea, looking towards Rodondo Island , with shipping and a
steamer in the foreground.
14. Rio Janeiro, seat of government, Brazils. St Sebastian,
long 42.39W 22.54S lat. Serpent Island [1858]
Pencil - 21.9 x 116 - NK762/69. A panorama in 4 sections of the harbour of Rio Janeiro.
15. Military post at Yacote
Pencil and wash - 14.2 x 46.8 cm - NK762/43. A panorama in two sections. Illustrated below.
* Atlantic Ocean
16. "Teneriffe" showing the fort. In trying to take this,
Lord Nelson lost his Arm and the Union Jack from the Bows of his Boat
which is now hung up in the cathedral at " Santa Cruz "
[1858]
Sepia Wash - 17 x 25.4 - NK762/67. Coastal view looking south along the sea cliffs towards Teneriffe. The
Fort is shown in the right foreground.
17. [August,
1858]
Pencil - 7.8 x 50.6 - NK762/65. A panorama in two sections. The Cape Verde Islands are situated in the
Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain. They were popular ports of call
for ships last century bound for the Americas, Australasia and India.
18. Cape Horn, the Southern extremity of South Americaœ.
Straits of Magellan 300 Miles. Iceberg. Diego Romianor © Small Island
off Cape Horn. Lat 56.8 Long 70 W. At October. For some days it is
continually dry. For sometime it was this as we passed for 84 hours
[1851]
Pencil - 16.1 x 25 - DLPX53 f.23. This view was taken whilst on the return journey to England aboard the
Mountstuart, following Westmacott's disastrous episode as General
Superintendent to the Australian Agricultural Company. The Mountstuart
would have passed Cape Horn during October 1851.
First compiled: 1993.
Last updated: 5 February 2005
Michael Organ, Australia
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