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).

The 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

Event Date 12/10/2011
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Watercolour and pencil painting on paper, mounted on cardboard. Painting shows view of buildings with a large white building on the right side. Inscription: 'The Great Palace Manjako-Miadana. The ?rural Veraandahs', 'S. Pasfield Oliver, Lieut. R.A.', 'Friday, September 19th, 1862. The Palace Precincts Antananarivo, Madagascar'. Below the painting are inscriptions with arrows: 'Idol keepers houses', 'Idol houses'. 'The Idol House'. 'The old Trano-Vola of Radama I', 'The tombs of the Hova kings', 'House of [?] Rainijoheay Lue... [unclear words, possibly a reference to Rainiharo], Ranavalona, Prime Minister'. '410/0' in pencil on the back of the mount and '19' in pencil on the front.
Event Date 12/10/2011
Author: maa