Canada.- Quebec.- Peachey (Attributed to James William, surveyor, draughtsman, army officer, and artist, d. 1797) The Montmorency Falls, with figure sketching in the foreground, watercolour [probably late 18th century]

Canada.- Quebec.- Peachey (Attributed to James William, surveyor, draughtsman, army officer, and artist, d. 1797) The Montmorency Falls, with figure drawing in the foreground, watercolour over pencil on J. Whatman laid paper with partial watermark without date, sheet 330 x 505 mm. (13 x 19 7/8 in), faint squaring in pencil for possible transfer, extensive pencil inscription verso by a later hand describing the particulars of the waterfall, noting that the height was taken in 1785, the text initialled 'E.G.G.', minor handling creases with nicks and tears to edges, some surface dirt, unframed, [late 18th century].

⁂ The present view closely relates to the etching and aquatint that Peachey produced with John Wells in 1785 [for an example see BL Maps K.Top.119.44.c]. The major difference is that the solo artist sketching in the foreground of the present work is replaced in the aquatint by two men holding fishing rods and looking outwards. Other small alterations in the aquatint can be noted such as removal of the man fishing on the left, yet the figures in the distance on the right are also found in the aquatint. The National Archives of Canada hold another version of the watercolour with slight variations (see MIKAN no.: 2833913).

Peachey was a known associate and friend of the young Joseph Bouchette [see subsequent lot], with the two men meeting through the Surveyor General Samuel Johannes Holland (1728-1801); Peachey was assistant to Holland, who was Bouchette's uncle.