The People of Gibraltar
1830 - Richard Ford - Sketches

Several years ago I wrote several essays on Richard Ford, a much celebrated mid-19th century British travelogue writer. In one of my articles I quoted the author of one of his obituaries. According to him, Ford’s Handbook for Travellers in Spain – probably his most successful book – was, 

“. . . among the best books of travel, humour,  history . . .  politics and art, in the English language.”  

Very recently, however, I came across the following article wich has made me wonder whether perhaps the obituary writer should have added that by “art” he meant both the literary and the visual varieties. 


The authors of the above article actually offer a different perspective as regards these sketches,

. . . .no tenían pretensiones artísticas, ni intereses editoriales o comerciales, como ocurría con otras vistas de ciudades y monumentos de España realizadas por destacados viajeros y artistas de aquel tiempo. A diferencia de ellos, Ford . . . para conocer y recordar, por simple curiosidad, fascinación o puro placer, para obtener un fiel registro de sus observaciones pocos años antes de la aparición de la fotograf

"Retratos de Richard Ford como majo serio"    (1832 - José Domínguez Bécquer)

Perhaps the best way to make up one’s mind is to have a look at some of the sketches I have posted below, or perhaps even better by checking the following link  to the article in question. (LINK)


“Reaching the Rock of Gibraltar” (1830 – Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection – From "Los Dibujos de Richard Ford. . . Gámiz and Pardo


“Apes Hill"” (1830 – Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection – From "Los Dibujos de Richard Ford. . . Gámiz and Pardo


“Entrance into Gibraltar” (1830 – Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection – From "Los Dibujos de Richard Ford. . . Gámiz and Pardo


Gaucin and the Strait of Gibraltar (1830 - Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection – From "Los Dibujos de Richard Ford. . . Gámiz and Pardo


“Gibraltar from Algeciras” (1830 – Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection – From "Los Dibujos de Richard Ford. . . Gámiz and Pardo

“Gibraltar from the Rock above” (1830 – Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection – From "Los Dibujos de Richard Ford. . . Gámiz and Pardo


“View of Neutral Ground from Willis Battery” (Richard Ford - 1830) 
Ford Family Collection –  Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


North side of the Rock (1830 – Richard Ford) 
FordFamily Collection –  Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


“Spanish lines”  (1830 – Richard Ford) 
Ford Family Collection –  Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


“Moorish Castle. Gibraltar” (1830 – Richard Ford)  
Ford Family Collection –  Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


“Moorish Castle. Gibraltar” (1830)  
Ford Family Collection –  Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


                                                     Arabs in Gibraltar (Richard Ford) (Richard Ford)                                                       Ford Family Collection – Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


Jews, a porter and Spanish women in Gibraltar
Ford Family Collection – Los Dibujos de Richard Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo


People of Gibraltar (Richard Ford)  
Ford Family Collection –  Los Dibujos de Richard  Ford . . . Gámiz and Pardo




1827 - Andrew Bigelow (LINK)
1820 - Henry Sandham (LINK)  
1821 - Theodore Dwight (LINK)
1824 - James Bucknall Estcourt (LINK­­)
1826 - Thomas Staunton St Clair (LINK) 
1829 - Alexander Slidell-Mackenzie (LINK)
1830 - William Maginn (LINK)  
1830 - Arthur de Capell Brooke (LINK)  
1830 - Frederick Leeds Edridge (LINK)
1830 - Henry D. Inglis (LINK)  
1830 - Amasa Hewins  (LINK)
1830 - Josiah Conder (LINK)
1832 - Commodore Perry (LINK)  
1832 - William Harris Rule (LINK)  
1837 - Pierre Edmond Boissier (LINK)
1837 - Robert Montgomery Martin (LINK)  
1838 - George Dennis (LINK)  
1838 - George Wright (LINK)
1838 - Charles R. Scott (LINK)  
1838 - James Barber  (LINK)
1839 - Mr. Southey (LINK)  
1840 - Edward Delaval Hungerford Napier (LINK)
1840 - Théophile Gautier  (LINK)  
1840 - Rev George Newenham Wright  (LINK)
1840 - Charlotte Paget (LINK)
1841 - George Henry Borrow (LINK)
1841 - Francis Elizabeth Davies (LINK)  
1841 - The Rev William Robertson (LINK)  
1842 - Prince Adalbert of Prussia (LINK)
1842 - Charles Rockwell (LINK)
1843 - J.H. Allan  (LINK)
1843 - John Adam Dix (LINK)
1844 - George Lothian Hall (LINK)
1844 - Martin Haverty (LINK)
1844 - Old Inhabitant’s Traveller’s Handbook (LINK)
1845 - T. M. Hughes (LINK)
1846 - E.F. Kelaart (LINK)
1846 - William Makepeace Thackeray (LINK)
1846 - Alexandre Dumas (LINK)
1848 - Thomas Debary (LINK)
1848 - David Urquhart (LINK)
1849 - William George Clark (LINK)

 


With thanks to Rafael Fernandez who pointed me in the right direction for this one as he has done for many of my other essays.

Thank you also to Antonio Gámiz  Gordo and Juan Carlos Pardo Gonzaléz.  I hope they will forgive me for using their wonderful work.

See als0 the following links.

 1846 - Richard Ford - A Nasty Taste in the Mouth
1855 - Richard Ford - A Cloacal Nuisance
1855 - Richard Ford - Quotes





1827 - Andrew Bigelow  (LINK)