BRUNIAS

AGOSTINO BRUNIAS was a painter from Rome, where he was a student at the Academia de San Luca. He was also employed as a draughtsman by Robert Adam. He returned with Adam to England in 1758 and continued to work with him there.

It is thought that Brunias travelled with Sir William Young, the first British Governor of Dominica, to the West Indies in 1770. Until his death in 1796, Brunias concentrated on subjects in the West Indies, in particular, Dominica, St.Vincent, St.Christopher and Barbados. Many of these were for rich white planters who ran estates on the islands, such as Sir Patrick Blake and Sir Ralph Payne.

Three subjects on Dominica were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1777 and 1779, at a time it is believed he returned to London. Two of Brunias's five paintings, to decorate the breakfast room at Kedelston Hall, are now exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He exhibited some pictures at the Free Society of Artists in 1762 and 1763 and two drawings in 1770.

Brunias's work is an important record of life in the Lesser Antilles in the second half of the 18th century, at the peak of the British military and commercial domination. His work reveals that he became primarily a figure painter, concentrating on new culture of the mulatto, born from the mixture of European, African and Carib races.

All work by Brunias is rare.

Ref: Description: Date: Size: No.Price Ea:

Ref#WR01 Click on image for larger view.
WR01BRUNIAS, Negro Dance in Dominica, full col 1779 12"x15" 1 $5850.00


Ref#WR06 Click on image for larger view.
WR06BRUNIAS, The West India Washer-Woman. Title and address also noted in French. Exceptional quality sepia stipple-engraving with three ladies at a stream washing clothes. Black/white 1790 8'x12" 1 $5850.00


Ref#WR02 Click on image for larger view.
WR02BRUNIAS, Free Natives of Dominica. This is one of the best examples of his work we have seen, excellent quality stipple engraving, uncoloured as issued. 1790 7"x10"
SOLD
 $3850.00

Ref#WR03 Click on image for larger view.
WR03BRUNIAS, This is one of the best examples of his work we have seen, excellent quality stipple engraving, uncoloured as issued. 1790 7"x10" 1 $3850.00


Ref#WR04 Click on image for larger view.
WR04BRUNIAS, A Negroes Dance in the Island of Dominica. Excellent quality stipple engraving in full original colour. Trimmed to three sides as usual. Published London. 1810 13"x10" 1 $5850.00


Ref#WR778 Click on image for larger view.
WR778 BRUNIAS,Bouquetierres de S'Domingue,Labrousse, full col, excellent condition. c.1790 7.5"X5.5" 1 $3,200


Ref#WR779 Click on image for larger view.
WR779 BRUNIAS,Chatoyer the chief of the black Chariaibes in theSt.Vincent with his five Wives,pub from the Brian Edwards History of the West Indies. Piccadilly,London. good condition w/crease on fold handcoloured. 1796 7.5"X9.5" 1 $1,500


Ref#WR782 Click on image for larger view.
WR782 BRUNIAS,A NEGRO FESTIVAL,drawn from nature in the Iland of St.Vincent,,uncoloured,good condition. 1796 7.5"x9.5" 1 $1,500
WR783A CHAPMAN,AFTER BRUNIAS.Negroes of different generations in the West Indies, London, coloured. 1802 5" X 7" 1 $1,450
WR783B Chapman, After Brunias. Charibbee Indies. 1802 5" X 7" 1 $1,450