Norris, Robert Provo, d. 1851
Found in 50 Collections and/or Records:
"__amber's _op, Taben-Dodo, June 51, In front of Fort White" hilltop beyond a dusty lowland., 1851 June
Watercolor sketch of a dusty lowland in foreground with brushy hill rising to a slightly rocky peak in the background. A dirt path appears to wind up towards the peak. The title is not completely legible, but indicates that this image is of a location in the Tabendodo Mountains (a name which seems to have become obsolete).
African (Xhosa?) woman carrying baskets on her head., circa 1846-1851
An African woman is seen from behind in this apparently incomplete sketch. She bears three baskets on her head and carries a fourth basket in her hand. She wears some kind of band-like top, with a wrapped long skirt. Her feet are bare and she wears bracelets on her wrists. A palm tree is sketched loosely at left. Unlabeled.
"Attack on Fort White, 3 January 1851.", 1851 January
Watercolor sketch showing an encampment of Xhosa/"Kaffir" warriors in foreground, with the British Fort White seen in the middle-distance in a grassy valley floor. The warriors, who appear to be naked, hold rifles and are clustered in small groups here and there on a flat dusty area. There are no British troops seen in this image, done presumably sometime after the attack. Labeled in graphite on reverse. Unsigned.
Brushy hills and mountains / Zander End view., circa 1846-1851
Watercolor view of brushy, grassy, hills and purplish mountains in distance. A few buildings appear at the right.
On the reverse is an image of the Zander End river/mountains that feature a few times in Norris's paintings. Neither image is complete. Unsigned/unlabeled.
"Cape Corps," portrait of an African man in military garb., 1850 November
"Cape Town/Henry de ____[?]", circa 1846-1851
Castle, "Near KW Town.", circa 1846-1851
Church building in grassy valley., 1850 September 10
Watercolor of a Victorian style stone church with an arched Gothic glass window at front and narrow arched windows. Two figures sit on a rock in the foreground, before a small pool of water. Other buildings lie to the side of the church and an imposing blue mountain range rises in the distance. Labeled on reverse, "Sept. 10th/50."
Coastline fort / Wooden cabins., circa 1846-1851
Watercolor sketch of a mutli-storey stone fort sitting on a rocky coastline. The fort is seen at some distance, with the beach, a rocky formation, and the water in the foreground. Unlabeled.
On the reverse is a watercolor and graphite sketch (incomplete) of wooden cabins. They appear to be part of some kind of settlement or military post. Trees are sketched in around the two cabins visible here. Unlabeled.
Coastline with mountains and ships in water., circa 1846-1851
Graphite sketch, somewhat incomplete, of tall brushy mountains, whose tops are obscured by clouds, towering over a coastal settlement. A few ships can be seen in the water. Unlabeled.
Cypress trees with man sitting under them, church tower in background., circa 1846-1851
A fine watercolor showing a man in a blue jacket, beige pants, and pointed straw hat sitting on a stone block under a small grove of cypress trees. Beyond this area, which appears to be a fenced park, a stone tower rises in the center distance. Unlabeled.
Diary, 1847 September 1-1850 May 9
Diary, 1848 September 8-1851 October 9
"Eno: A Kaffir Chief.", circa 1846-1851
Portrait of "Eno: A Kaffir Chief," showing a middle-aged African man with a leopard-skin cape draped around his shoulders. He wears a black beaded necklace and earring. His hair is cropped short. It is unclear how Norris came to paint this portrait--whether Eno was a prisoner of the British regiment or had some kind of pact of non-aggression with colonial forces.
Envelope, addressed to "Captain Lawlor, R.A., 13 Marine Parade, Lowesloff ... with Rev. Mr. D.G. Norris's kind regards and best thanks.", between 1847 and 1852?
Includes another unsigned and undated note, in a different hand, indicating that the manuscripts originally stored in the envelope (items 3a(2-7) in the present collection) should be saved for future generations.
"Fort Cox," brushy hills and mountains in background., circa 1846-1851
Watercolor depiction of a low stone fort with wooden gates. A British flag flies from the flagpole at center. A sentry in a red coat stands guard at right. Brushy hills and purple mountains rise in the distance. Labeled "Fort Cox" on reverse in graphite.
Graphite drawings and watercolor sketches of miscellaneous subjects, chiefly landscapes in South Africa., 1848?
Jockey on horseback with dog., circa 1846-1851
Graphite sketch of a jockey or rider in a lightweight cap and riding clothes astride a horse who leaps or gallops forward. A dog is shown running alongside the horse, although the dog has been sketched over with shading/cross-hatching. The image is initialed "RN." It likely represents a scene from one of the many horse races that Norris seemed fond of attending while in the Cape Town area.
"Kaffirs" portrait of man, two women, and infant., circa 1846-1851
Landscape with fort as seen from riverbank., circa 1846-1851
Watercolor sketch showing a large stone building from a distance. In the foreground, a river or stream curves to the left. Large square rocks appear on one bank and a gnarled tree sits on the opposite bank at right. Brush covers the flats and hills surrounding the river and large blue mountains can be seen in the distance beyond the valley in which the building sits. Unsigned and unidentified.
Additional filters
- Type
- Archival Object 49
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Watercolors (paintings) 28
- Xhosa (African people) 11
- Correspondence 10
- Graphite drawings 9
- Portraits 5
- South Africa -- History -- Frontier Wars, 1811-1878 5
- Diaries 3
- Travel sketches -- South Africa 2
- British -- South Africa -- History -- 19th century 1
- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- Description and travel 1
- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- History -- 1795-1872 1
- Great Britain -- Colonies -- Africa -- History -- 19th century 1
- Horse racing 1
- Horses in art 1
- Landscape drawings -- South Africa 1
- Letters 1
- Memorials 1
- Newspapers 1
- Pen and ink drawings 1
- Sketchbooks 1 ∧ less