English School, circa 1830

A pair of important early views of Valparaiso, dateable to c.1830 when Paul Delano, Captain of the port, began construction of the first wharf (shown under construction in one of these views). The port grew quickly following Chilean independence in 1818, as the country opened to international trade. It became the main harbour for the Chilean navy, was devastated by the earthquake of 1822, and was the South American Station for the Royal Navy from 1826 to 1837. For two comparable views of the port in similar format, albeit less fine, see Lieutenant William Hunter's pair of brown wash drawings showing the port in early 1822, taken on USS Franklin's Pacific cruise of 1821-24 (Christie's, London, 14 Dec. 2017, lot 132).