PT2009

An island, possibly a view of the Desertas Long Caption: 'S by E 1/2 E': possibly a view of the Desertas [Bray album]'. This is one of 73 drawings by Bray (plus one signed 'NF 1782') preserved in a 19th-century album. Probably an Atlantic island seen from the 'Pallas', with its bearing, south by east and a half east. It may be one of the Desertas, to the south-east of Madeira (see PAJ1995). On 10 March 1775 Captain Cornwallis of the 'Pallas' also noted the view from the north-west of the rock (or island) of Palma off the coast of Sierra Leone: it 'appears like a large ship under sail; it is a very remarkable rock with a white streak down the middle and a Tree at one corner of it' (NMM ADM L/P/46). While this description does not obviously accord with Bray's drawing, the correlative bearing does, and the possibility of its being Palma islet cannot yet be dismissed. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Object: PAJ2009 Artist: Gabriel Bray Date: circa 1775 Medium: watercolour Size: 133 mm x 200 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.