Original pen, ink and wash drawing
of
Peter Hawke (1801-1887)
Member of an old English family, Peter Hawke arrived in France with his family where he spent most of his life. Passing through Dinan then Paris, he then settled on the banks of the Loire. An adventurous and traveling spirit, sometimes an illustrator, sometimes a watercolorist and designer, he left numerous drawings of Angers and illustrated various local publications including the famous L'Anjou et ses monuments published by Dr. Godard in 1839.
His engravings, preceded by numerous graphite pencil drawings, sometimes enhanced with pen, also adorned Souvenirs of the Exhibition of 1839, then Souvenirs of the Exhibition of 1842.
In 1844, he undertook the illustration of his work The Complete Works of King René for Count Quatrebarbe. It seems that this was his last important work in Angers. Always eager for new trips, he went to the United States then took part in the Carlist war in Spain.
He spent the last thirty years of his life in Mustapha, where he was mayor. He died aged 86 in 1887, in Tunis.
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Dimensions of the drawing 16.5 x 12.5 cm
Old drawing in a good state of conservation - See photo.