On the 20th of January 2020 I received the following email with an Irish address.
I stumbled across your web site while searching for information on Thomas Staunton St Clair. The reason for this being that my family possesses an old Victorian scrapbook, in which I discovered two watercolours by him, with accompanying letters by him explaining the content of each in great detail. He dates one painting "The Europa Gate" as 1826 and the other of his wife and her maid as 1830.
The letters are written to the owner of the scrapbook, Miss Louisa Thompson, and must have been sent after 1838, as he signs them with his honorary title C.B. The scrapbook itself appears to be a child's or young adult's scrapbook, dedicated to her from her uncle, John Thompson. My guess is he may have served with Thomas Staunton St Clair as many of the cuttings in it are of British army buildings and battles in India - most cuttings date to the 1870s.
So, I thought I would contact you . . . to see if you might know of anyone in Gibraltar who might have a real appreciation for him and be interested in making a reasonable offer for these paintings and letters. . .
Louise Stone
Ms Stone attached copies of the two watercolours and accompanying letters. Here is the first one and its explanatory note.
Transcript of St Clair’s description of the painting:
To Miss ThompsonA sketch of Mrs St Clair and her maid servant preparing to descend into the Salt Mines near Saltsburg in the Tyrol in (?). The ridiculous costume was put on by them in the cottage (on) the top of the Alps with a leather apron (?) behind to guard them in their descent (as) it was necessary to slide down long galleries from the top of the mountain to the bottom. I have opted to make this sketch of them not as a likeness but to show their dress. Mrs St Clair is giving her (shawl) to her attendant (arm)
St Clair CBYou can easily detach these sketches (from|) the brown paper I have (glued) them on.
The description in the album
And here is the second picture:
Transcript of St Clair’s description of the painting with my comments:
To Miss Thompson with Colonel St. Clair’s best regardsEuropa Pass Gate – on the Rock of GibraltarThis drawing was made in 1826 by me on the spot where the road separates on descending past Europa pass Gate to Europa Point. On looking back this view presented itself on the road between the Rock is seen the gate way and guard house.
Crop from main painting
Left - Early 20th century – Right –Mid-19th century - It shows the gate viewed from the opposite side of Europa Pass
To the left hand is shewn the Devils bowling green from its rough and strong nature having a path way leading through it passing the Devils Battery . . .
So-called the Devil's Bowling Green because enemy cannonballs that fell on it rolled higgledy-piggledy down the slope and into the sea. It no longer exists. It was quarried in the late 19th early 20th c to build a dockyard and improve the harbour facilities.
The Devil’s Bowling Green – before and after it had been quarried (Late 19th and mid 20th century)
And another view on another watercolour by St Clair of the Devil’s Bowling Green from the south -
Devil’s Bowling Green middle right
. . . and entering the wall which conducts to the red tiled house which is called Buenna Vista.
Buena Vista Barracks - “Good View” in Spanish (Late 19th century J.H. Mann)
Most of the houses on this outcrop would be demolished to make way for Buena Vista Barracks – It’s where I did my national service as a young man!
A little below this to the right hand just seen between the rocks is the Ordnance Hospital and Charles the 5th wall is seen running up the Rock to the signal post, which, stands on its top.
Crop from main painting
First time I have heard of an Ordinance hospital – On the other hand the Naval Hospital – a very old building that still exist although now no longer a hospital - would perhaps have been visible through the gates. He mentions it in another of his watercolours.
'In the front ground of this view is Rosia Bay with a centennial of the 42nd Regiment in Royal Highlanders on duty. Immediately under the distant gun is Rosia Bay and the line wall extending round it. The building immediately behind the wall of Rosia Battery is the naval store and the large building standing higher up on the rock is the naval hospital and there cannot be a better adopted one or more commodious'.
The “signal post” was usually referred to as “Signal Station”. Black leather balls were hung on the cross-like mast shown on the painting below, the number and position of the balls informing of ship movements in the Straits and beyond.
The Signal Station (1840s – A. Guesdon)
Charles V wall did not actually lead up to” Signal post/Station. The “Moorish Wall” which lies north and parallel to it is the one that did. Despite its name it is not Moorish. It was built in the 16th century on the orders of Phillip II of Spain.
(1831 - W.H. Smyth - Crop)
On the right hand of the road in the foreground are precipitous rocks the ladder on their top is a short-cut for the officers of the Regiment. ? is Wind Mill Hill Barracks down to their Mess room in the Military Hospital which in time of peace is made use of as Officers Quarters. At the moment I took this sketch the 85th Light Brigade were the Regiment in occupation of it.
They were probably on their way to “Bleak House”.
“Soldiers of the 42nd Regiment fishing below the line wall of the Parson's Battery” (1830s - Thomas Staunton St Clair)
The white building on the edge of the cliff in St Clair's picture is Bleak House. It was originally proposed as a sanatorium for officers. The project was not a success - in 1820 - just three years after its opening - it ceased to be used as one. Apparently, it was cheaper to send people back home. It did not remain empty for too long and was then used as an officers' mess and later as officers’ quarters.
When Staunton made this painting, it was occupied by the 85th or King’s Light Infantry that had recently arrived from Malta. Those who happened to have been billeted there always thought that they had drawn the short straw.
The Bay of Gibraltar is situated far below the Rock to the left of this view, and the mountains in Andalusia framed the prospect. The few shippings seen to the extreme left are anchored off the Spanish town of Algesiras. And the ship under way is standing for the Bay of Gibraltar or anchoring ground.
“The few Shippings”
The favoured anchoring ground for small craft was usually just north of the Commercial Wharf – itself just north of the Old Mole. Larger ships would drop anchor in the Bay a mile or more from land.
Smaller craft anchored to the north of the commercial wharf which was constructed in 1803 (1881 -Captain Buckle’s Album)
The building to the left of the red roofed house is – I think - the Devil’s Bowling Green Battery – which of course would have been another casualty of the above mentioned quarry work.
In the fore ground I have represented myself sitting on the wall which separates the two roads leading one to the Military Hospital the other to Europa Point, in the act of making this sketch, not quite so fast as I am now.I am not sure what Staunton was trying to get across when he underlined that last phrase. He was 44 years old when he painted this watercolour. Was he suggesting that he had become a much better painter later on in life?
The officer mounted on the white Spanish horse is a dear friend of mine, Colonel Paty of the 94th? Regt, next to him on a black charger is Colonel Edward Field of the 43rd Light Infantry Regt . . .
From the left, Major Harrison, Staunton, Colonel Edward Field and Colonel Patty
I find it hard to make out the name of the fellow on the black charger so I have had to hazard a guess - and I will continue to do so as regards his regiment which I think was the 43rd (Monmouthshire Light Infantry) Regiment of foot. They were stationed in Gibraltar from 1822 to 1830.
. . . and two officers of the 85th are looking over the wall into the Bay and Major Harrison of the 23rd or Royal Welch Fusiliers is entering a bay horse to gain the two Colonels.
“ Two officers of the 85th” and Major Harrison
Some officers’ goats are on the rocks to the right.
Officers and their goats
This is the first time I have come across the idea that Garrison officers kept goats. I would imagine that either batmen or locals were actually the people who looked after them on their behalf. My guess is that the animals were mostly used for their milk – cows were and have always been something of a rarity in Gibraltar. I am nevertheless surprised. I am certain that cow’s milk would have been readily available from Spain at the time.
This view is correct and represents the scene intended well, you must recollect the climate is warm which I have tried to make it – and I hope for my sake you will guard it in the cockles of your heart.
St. Clair C.B.
That CB is revealing. It seems that he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1838 Coronation Honours, the coronation in question being that of Queen Victoria. In 1815, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the Prince Regent expanded the order by creating two divisions – one military the other civil which caused considerable controversy at the time as many thought the increased numbers made the Order valueless. A decade or so later, St Clair obviously thought otherwise.
The officers in blue are off duty this being their undress, whilst the others in red are engaged on duty, this explanation may be necessar
Presumably Staunton was pointing out that he was off duty at the time and entitled to amuse himself rather than deal with military matters. An odd comment though.
Here are St Clair's comments as they appear in the Album
The description in the album:
Finally, the following engraving or decolourised painting also of Europa Pass drawn closer to it and somewhat further north is attributed to Staunton St Clair. Whether it is by him or not I don’t know.
I must say that I was quite chuffed when Ms Stone managed to sell both paintings - and the entire contents of the album in which they had been included - to the Gibraltar Museum. It was the right and perfect home for such a picture.
Thank you Louise.