The View Of Montreal, From Saint Helens Island

First edition. Paper: 14-1/2 x 10-3/4 inches. Image: 13-1/2 x 9-1/8 inches. Early hand-coloured stipple and line copperplate engraving on wove paper, "The View Of Montreal, From Saint Helens Island". Inscribed in the plate, l.l.: R.A. Sproule. Delt; l.r.: W.L. Leney. Sc.; l.c.: VIEW OF MONTREAL. / From Saint Helens Island. / Published by A. Bourne. Montreal. 1830. Professional conservation of this print was done including removing old repairs, washed, light bleaching and any fragments reattached. Condition now considered very good, brighter and much cleaner.

A. Bourne printed and published six Montreal scenes, engraved by William Satchwell Leney after water-colours by Robert Auchmuty Sproule, which comprised the first set of single-sheet engravings of a Canadian city to be printed in Canada. quoted from DCB online, Adolphus Bourne Biography

The original watercolour by R.A.Sproule is in the Collection of the McCord Museum of McGill University. It is of historical interest as the print records the coming of steam to the inland waters of Canada. One of a set of six Montreal prints after Sproule.

The Montreal and Quebec series of prints are said to be the most handsome series published in Canada demonstrating the maturity achieved in pictorial printmaking in Canada during the first half of the 19th century. These engravings are considered to be quite scarce and sought after. deVolpi 22; Spendlove p. 62 & pl. 90

Robert Auchmuty Sproule was born in Athlone, Ireland, in 1799. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin where he received an M.A, degree. He came to Canada in the late 1820's and lived in Montreal for some years. At the time of his death in 1845 he was living in March, Ontario. He was a miniature painter and illustrator, and drew the illustrations for Hawkins' Picture of Quebec, 1834. He drew the six views of Montreal (1830) and four of Quebec (1832)". Spendlove.