From the exhibition's flyer:
"John Davenport Shakespear came to Corfu in 1856 as a Major in the British Garisson, bringing with him his bride, Louisa Caroline Sayer. During his stay on the island, he met Edward Lear, a well-known English traveller, painter and humourous poet. The two men became friends and Lear mentions in his diaries that on February 1858 he sold his "photographic machine" to Shakespeare, who combined his military duties with touring the island, capturing unique pictures of the landscape and its residents. The Shakespeare family returned home to England in 1860.
The collection of J.D. Shakespear, which had the chance to survive as a family heirloom, comprises eighty six original photographs. The photographs are ordered, according to the practice of the period, in a usually quite elaborate album. The themes vary. The photographic lens is sometimes focused on the monuments, the public buildings, the harbours, the residences and the streets of city and other times it attempts to capture aspects of the city's suburbs and the countryside. Of special interest are the portraits of the local population and the members of the British community, while particullaty impressive and important for the urban development of the city are the panoramic views."
Below are some of the pictures of the exhibition:
Corfu Town from Vido Island
View of the north side of the Corfu Town from the Old Fortress
The palace and the Esplanade panoramic view
View of Garitsa bay from the Old Fortress
Mandraki harbour on the north side of the Old Fortress peninsula
Old Fortress
Evropouli village
Countryside near Evropouli village
Maitland monument and some gentlemen
Schulenburg statue outside the Old Fortress' entrance - still stands in the same place today!
The Old Fortress
A British resident of Corfu
Corfu Town Panorama
The Old Fortress from Kardaki
British Official
Chalikiopoulos inlet - this is where the modern Corfu Airport now stands!
The Harbour in Spilia from the New Fortress
A British official
Corfu Town panorama
Countryside
Kanoni - Vlaherna and the Mouse Island before the tourists
Garitsa bay from "Porta Remunda"
The Palace from Contra Fossa
Old Corfu Town
Towards Corfu Town from San Salvador Hill (Filakes)
A british ship
A british ship again
Mandraki harbour
Typical Corfu countryside...
A day in the wood with the olive trees!
The Old Fortress from the NAOK area
Nikiforou Theotoki Street from Liston - Note the "Panagia ton Ksenon" belltower
Kofineta and St Spyridon Street - nothing much has changed since the 1850s!
Pentofanaro again - Notice that there was a view of Saint Spyridon's bell tower!
Garitsa bay from "Porta Remunda" - now demolished. As you can see the whole Tennis and Alexandra Avenue area has not build up yet!
British ships anchored outside Corfu's harbour
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