Museum catalogue: Polar Art Collection

The Arctic Squadron in Leevely Harbour, Island of Disco, Coast of Greenland


Accession no.:	Y: 72/12/1
Title:	The Arctic Squadron in Leevely Harbour, Island of Disco, Coast of Greenland
Description:	Series of fourteen lithographs, based on sketches made by Commander Walter W. May during the voyage of Assistance up Wellington Channel in search of Sir John Franklin. 'We found Lievly an unusually snug harbour, with a small settlement of Danes and Esquimaux located on the south side of the harbour. The Danes had built themselves wooden houses; bu the Esquimaux, with some exceptions, still continued their old system of burrowing under ground - that is digging a trench and roofing it with mud, with a small window at the end...the dresses of the Esquimaux at this place are similar to those so often represented, only they have the advantage of linen in summer, instead of seal-skin. They wear a short frock to the waist, wioth a hood on the back, something like the hooded capes worn by ladies, in which, however, these Esquimaux carry their children' - Extract from 'A Series of Fourteen Sketches'.
Medium:	Lithograph
Artist:	May, W.W.
Note:	Published on 1 May 1855, Day and Son, London. Lievly Harbour and/or Lively Harbour. Typo, 'The Artic Squadron'.
Dimensions:	Image: Width: 365mm; height: 265mm Mount: Width: 402mm; height: 275mm