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 a view of buildings on a hillside/cliff with a large white building on the top of the hill on the left side and a ravine in the foreground. Inscription: 'Antananarivo from S.E.', 'S. Pasfield Oliver, Lieut: R.A., A.D.C.', 'Antananarivo from the South East, August 1862'. '410/0' in pencil on reverse of the mount and '20' in pencil on the front, '17' and '16' in pencil and crossed out.
Event Date 12/10/2011
Author: maa