The theory of my correspondent, that the lithographs were the work of Professor Colesworthy Grant, is not borne out by the inscription on the last four lithographs, now privately owned in Hongkong. Mr. Maclure, as shown above, was the lithographer and the work was done in London not in Hongkong.
The little story of the Pipes, told above, confirms my previous statement that Mr. Bruce was one of the very few artists of the old days whose pictures were meticulously accurate. He never put a hill where it should not have been, nor drew a house other than as it really appeared.
But for his industry and his genius, the Colony would to-day be without those beautiful lithographs, which tell such a vivid story of Hongkong's appearance in the olden days.
Back in the first decade of the Colony's history, Hongkong gave shelter, but little else, to a man of undoubted artistic genius. He was Mr. M. Bruce, Overseer of Roads, and, in his spare time, a landscape painter.
Illustrating earlier articles, I have reproduced twelve lithographs of Mr. Bruce's paintings of scenes in Old Hongkong. The pictures created a great amount of interest both here and at Home, and several letters were received, praising the work of the artist.
I am indebted to a reader who has sent me extracts from the Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette, relative to Mr. Bruce's work. The first is dated July 1, 1846, and reads:
We understand that Mr. Bruce, Overseer of Roads proposes to publish a series of views of Hongkong, and will shortly solicit the support of the public to his undertaking. We have seen several of the views which we consider very creditable, more especially when compared with the wretched caricatures which have hitherto been in circulation, under the designation of views of Victoria. We have no doubt, Mr. Bruce will meet the support and favour of his countrymen both here and in Europe.
On July 8, 1846, the following advertisement appeared in the Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette:
Preparing for Publication, to be continued Monthly
HONGKONG ILLUSTRATED,
In a Series of Lithographs
Delineating the Architecture of Victoria, the
Villages, Temples, and Picturesque Scenery of the Island, with descriptive Letterpress. The whole intended to convey to the eye and the mind a complete picture of Hongkong, drawn on the spot by,
M. Bruce, Archt.
Overseer of Road, Hongkong,
Victoria 6th July 1846.
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