W S Hedges, (British, act. 1830)

W S Hedges, (British, act. 1830)
Topographical view, possibly depicting Kalinago; A village scene with exotic birds, armadillo, monkey, dogs and a canoe, river and palm trees beyond
signed and dated 'W S Hedges, 1830' (lower right)
oil on canvas laid on board
55 x 80 cm. (21 1/2 x 31 1/2 in.)
(unframed)

Provenance
Private London Collection

Little is known about William Hedges, however, his existing recorded works give us fascinating insights into life in the Southern United States, Barbados and British Guiana (now Guyana) in the late 1800s. We know that Hedges travelled extensively during his lifetime, visiting Guiana in the early 1830s, including an expedition to the Pakaraima Mountains (southwestern Guyana) and Georgetown. A recorded painting held by Uno Langman Limited, Canada, executed 1835, depicts the arrival of Sir Lionel Smith (1778-1842), in the front carriage with his family, as Governor-in-Chief of British Guiana at Georgetown, Demerara on May 27.

Other known significant works by the artist include his depictions of horse racing, some of which are held at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and another titled Race Day Savannah of St Ann’s from 1846, which he painted whilst in Barbados and is now held by The Barbados Museum and Historical Society, St. Ann’s Garrison, St. Michael, Barbados.

It is recorded that after members of that expedition fell ill, Hedges visited a Carib village up the Demerara River and painted a scene of its inhabitants. One of these paintings is recorded as being held in the private collection of Michael Graham-Stewart. The present painting is likely another example from this visit as the style of this work is comparatively similar to the known example, each vibrantly capturing natural life, including mountainous landscapes, forest, figures and animals.

Interestingly, his works bare stylistic and compositional similarities to another artist with a similar name, William Hodges, R.A. (1744-1797), a topographical painter who may well have been alive at the same time and influenced his artistic style.

Notes
Quilley and J. Bonehill, William Hodges 1744-1797: the Art of Exploration, New Haven and London, 2005

The voyages of Captain James Cook / Hedges, A A C. 1983, Published by Jarold, p. [32]p : illld