#MC18
Ca. 1840
Each ca. 16 x 34 cm (6.5 x 13 inches). Recently matted in one mat, watercolours in near fine condition.
The two well executed watercolours show 1.) Mindelo with its harbour and several boats and ships; 2.) Washington's Head with a ship and launch with sailors diving and swimming in the foreground. St. Vincent (São Vicente) "was discovered on Saint Vincent's Day (January 22) in 1462. Due to its lack of water, the island was initially used only as a cattle pasture by some proprietors of the neighboring island of Santo Antão. The island remained practically uninhabited until the middle of the 19th century. It was only in 1838, when a coal deposit was established in Porto Grande to supply ships on Atlantic routes, that the population started to grow rapidly. Due to the lack of rain and consequent lack of natural resources, the economy of São Vicente is based mainly on commerce and services...,Because of its excellent harbour, Mindelo (on the island of São Vicente) became an important commercial centre during the 19th century"(Wikipedia).
