Emeric Essex Vidal (1791-1861)

For another early Brazilian watercolour by Vidal, taken at Chamberlain's house at Braganza (Niteroi), see G. Ferrez, Iconografia do Rio de Janeiro 1530-1890, Catálogo Analítico, Rio de Janeiro, 2000, I, p.369, no. 2259 (this sheet, whereabouts unknown, dated July 1817 and dedicated to Mr Chamberlain).

The subject is the residence of Sir Henry Chamberlain, British Consul-General and Chargé d'Affaires in Rio de Janeiro from 1815 to 1829. Vidal, a paymaster in the British Navy, produced fine views of Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian seaboard when employed in various capacities on the South American Station between 1808 and 1837. He lived for three years on the Plata and Ackermann published his Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video in 1820. His impressive panoramas of the bay of Rio de Janeiro are in the Geyer Collection, Rio de Janeiro.