Sold for: $141,600

PROVENANCE
Corporate Collection, Vancouver
Sold sale of Fine Canadian Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, November 24, 2006, lot 187
Peter and Joanne Brown Collection, Vancouver

LITERATURE
Jacques Barbeau, The E.J. Hughes Album: The Paintings, Volume 1, 1932 - 1991, 2011, reproduced page 48

This work was originally commissioned by a well-known Vancouver firm to record important historic events in British Columbia. In 1789, Spain and England were engaged in a struggle over control of lands in the Pacific Northwest. England sent two sailing ships to this region, the HMS Discovery under Captain George Vancouver and the HMS Chatham, to survey the coast, deal with the Spanish claims and search for a possible Northwest Passage. The expedition arrived in 1792 and explored the coast from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Queen Charlotte Sound. This fine painting shows the Discovery and Chatham sailing towards Nootka Island, where the Spanish had established a base. Captain Vancouver was determined to regain control of coastal lands for England, under the terms of the Nootka Convention. In 1793, Spain and England had joint ownership of Nootka, but by 1795 England controlled these lands, and in 1858 created the mainland colony of British Columbia. E.J. Hughes captured these splendid vessels sailing on a shimmering sea against a magnificent mountain backdrop, inspiring our sense of wonder at this important turning point in coastal history.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars