Collection search - An iceberg, the HMS Terror and some walrus near the entrance of Hudson Strait [July 1836]

The version of this watercolour acquired by the Canadian Museum of History in 2011 has been dated to July 1836 based on an entry in George Back's diary.

The name of the ship is based on the title of a nearly identical watercolour by George Back: "H.M.S. Terror and one of her boats off a spectacular iceberg, apparently in the Davis Strait, between Canada and Greenland". The work was acquired by the Canadian Museum of Civilization from Bonhams of London in September 2011. The location of the ship is based on George Back's inscription on the verso of the Library and Archives Canada watercolour.

Colour transparency available

Exhibition Title: Cosmos: From Romanticism to the Avant-Garde. Curator: Jean Clair, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Quebec; 1999.06.17-1999.10.17
Further Venue: Centre de Cultura Contemporània, Barcelona, Spain; 1999.11.23-2000.02.20.
Further Venue: Palazzo Grassi, Venezia, Italia; 2000.03.24-2000.07.23., Exhibition Title: The Light that Fills the World. Curator: René Picard, Canadian Embassy Art Gallery, Washington, D.C.; 1989.09.19-1990.01.15, Exhibition title: Northwest Passage. Curators: Karen Ryan, Ph.D, Canadian Museum of Civilization / PMO Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario; 2013.03.11 - 2013.09.16

Inscribed. Signed. Dated., Inscription: Inscribed recto: in brushpoint, l.l. "G. Back"; accompanying note recto, in brown ink: "My dear Lady Louisa, / I am too unwell / to call on you but / I send you a little sketch / of an 'iceberg' with a Ship / and some Walrus - seen / generally in great / numbers about the entrance of Hudsons' / Strait."; Accompanying note verso, in brown ink: "Do not forget 'your' / sketch for me, and / in the hope that you / may pass an agree- / able summer - / ever bright and cheer / ful - believe me / Very Sincerely Yours / Geo Back / Via Milmancio [?] / Monday.