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
Distant view of Corfu town and its harbour, probably taken from the Kefalomantouko area
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
The cemetery in Chalikiopoulos inlet
Maitland monument and some gentlemen
Contrafossa and the Palace on the left
Schulenburg statue outside the Old Fortress' entrance - still stands in the same place today!
The Old Fortress
A British resident of Corfu
The Old Fortress from Garitsa
Corfu Town Panorama
Panorama of Garitsa's suburb. Note the snow capped Albanian mountains
The Old Fortress from Kardaki
British Official
British Official
British ships anchored outside Corfu's harbour
Chalikiopoulos inlet - this is where the modern Corfu Airport now stands!
The Harbour in Spilia from the New Fortress
A British official
A trip in the countryside
Garitsa bay from "Porta Remunda"
Mouragia area from Mandraki Harbour
The Palace from Contra Fossa
A day in the wood with the olive trees!
Pentofanaro again - Notice that there was a view of Saint Spyridon's bell tower!
Pentofanaro!
New Fortress ditch
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
A british ship
Panoramic view of Corfu Town
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