This drawing of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa shows an unusual perspective, given it was done in 1866 and the land below is still undeveloped. The artist is Otto Reinhold Jacobi, who came to Montreal from Düsseldorf in 1860 and began a long artistic life in Canada (or what would officially be Canada a few years later in 1867).
Image: Drawing, watercolor over graphite, 25.3 x 38.1 cm, held in the Graphic Arts collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, here.
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Absolutely beautiful. Amazing to look back at art that was done so long ago. A very soft, yet detailed style.
You’re right about the “soft” approach. Interesting, especially since the present Parliament buildings are actually sharp-edged, darker stone in a neo-Gothic style. Thanks for that. I am editing this comment because I’ve just realized you’ve put your finger on something I hadn’t thought of (as usual). The original Centre Block of the Parliament buildings (pictured in his drawing) were destroyed by fire in 1916 and only the Library of Parliament (behind the Tower building) still remains. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_Block So really, he drew an exact likeness (and I should know my history better)
Oh, I wouldn’t have known the history, since I’m not Canadian. I was just looking at the view, and I notice the date of the 1800, which was quite a while ago. 🙂
Thank you for triggering my realization that this is one of the few paintings of the original Parliament buildings. Appreciated.