Highlands on the Hudson

Highlands on the Hudson

ID: PC_GLENGARRY_ELLICE1_05 DESCRIPTION: A scene on the Hudson from 1838 painted by the diarist and amateur artist Katherine ‘Janie’ Ellice (1813 – 1864), who married Edward Ellice the younger in 1834. They travelled to Canada in 1838, and as well as recording the Canadian landscape she documented their experiences under siege during the Battle of Beauharnois on November 10 of that year. They returned to Britain after Christmas. Edward Ellice the elder (1783 – 1863), also known as ‘Bear’, was a merchant and politician who made his fortune in the Canadian fur trade. On returning from Canada in 1839, Bear bought the isolated Highland estate of Glenquoich. On the shores of Loch Quoich a lodge was built, where every autumn Bear entertained a stream of guests. After the death of Edward Ellice senior’s wife in 1844, his daughter-in-law Janie’s considerable talents as were put to good use hosting the annual stream of visitors to Glenquoich Lodge, and at the family house in London. As well as drawing and painting, Janie sang well, accompanied herself on piano or guitar, and was fluent in French, Italian and Gaelic. The numerous locally inspired paintings Janie produced in the early 1840s while she was staying at Glenquoich Lodge offer a glimpse of the cottages and costume of local Highland folk at in the 19th century. PLACENAME: River Hudson CREATOR (AV): Janie Ellice SOURCE: Glengarry Heritage Centre COLLECTION: Glengarry Heritage Centre Asset ID: 49044 KEYWORDS: