Lot 205: James D. Duncan, ARCA (Canadian, 1805-1881) Montreal from the Mountain and the Priests Farm

Montreal from the Mountain and the Priests Farm
inscribed with title (lower centre)
monochrome watercolour
39.4 x 59.5cm (15 1/2 x 23 7/16in).

James Duncan painted many watercolours of Montreal and the surrounding area. Many of his watercolours were used as a basis for his prints. There is a similar view titled "Montreal (From the Mountain)", which was published as a lithograph by Matthews Lithography on October 13th, 1843. The view shows the Cathedral of Notre Dame with the twin towers. Construction was completed in 1843. However this watercolour shows the cathedral without the towers, which dates it approximately to the year of 1839. Construction on the first twin tower was not completed until 1841.

In 1839, Newton Bosworth published a lithograph titled "City of Montreal from the Mountain" in "Hochelaga Depicta". This image bears many similarities to the watercolour. This includes a depiction of Notre Dame without the twin towers. It can therefore be presupposed that this watercolour is the one used as a basis for the lithograph.

Literature:
Mary Allodi, "Printmaking in Canada, the earliest views and portraits" Toronto 1980, pp 176,177.

Provenance:
Private collection, Montreal