“From Bideford to Burford”: Chapter Nine from the Proposed Exhibition Catalogue Figures in a Landscape: Robert Whale (1805–1887) / « De Bideford à Burford » : chapitre neuf du projet de catalogue pour l’exposition Figures in a Landscape: Robert Whale (1805–1887)

Abstract

In 1994, Robert Stacey was hired as a visiting associate curator by the Art Gallery of Hamilton. One of the exhibition projects that he curated for the gallery in 1995 was entitled Figures in a Landscape: The Art of Robert Reginald Whale (1805–1887). Following the exhibition, Stacey continued to gather research material on Whale, with the intention of eventually publishing an extensive biographical-critical study of the artist. This included material relating to Whale’s early life and career in England as well as his emigration to Canada and subsequent career in this country. Eventually, Stacey produced at least sixteen chapters relating to Whale’s life, but he appears never to have completed the publication as a whole. In May 1998, Stacey delivered the McCready Memorial Lecture at the Art Gallery of Ontario on the topic of his ongoing research into the life and career of Whale. But at some point, he seems to have abandoned the project. This excerpt is from the chapter describing Whale’s move from Bideford, Devon, to Burford, Canada West, in 1852.