Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) Lieutenant Samuel Pasfield Oliver, (Captain: 1871), Royal Artillery, visited Madagascar during 1861-2, and witnessed King Radama II’s coronation at Antananarivo (23 Sept 1861), and returned later in 1863 on HMS Rapid following the King’s presumed assassination, (12 May 1863).

Annual Report for 1893 notes that Captain S. Pasfield Oliver, late R.A., gave a collection of "fifty-nine sketches and finished drawings in pencil, in;, and water colours, of prehistoric stone monuments, tumuli, and burial places, sketched by the donor in England, the Channel Islands, Brittany, Etruria, Sardinia, Greece, the Troad, Madagasgar, Japan and" as well as a number of books to the library". It is likely that the Madagascan material here accessioned as 2011.96-232 is part of this donation. Transferred from the Haddon library in a card folio in 2010.

The Rova of Antananarivo, situated on the Analamanga hill, in the capital city of Antananarivo, is the royal palace complex, of which Isonerana presumably forms a part. The king of Madagascar referred to by Oliver would be King Radama II (1861–1863).
Event Date 29/9/2011
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Watercolour and ink drawing of procession up a hill. Inscription on reverse: "Procession of the court of the King of Madagascar after a fete at Isonierana Palace". Drawing marked "27".
Event Date 29/9/2011
Author: maa