The Missing British Columbia Paintings
- of -
Grafton Tyler Brown

Known Brown Paintings from British Columbia from his 1883 Catalogue and Surviving Examples

Only a few of Brown’s B.C. paintings have been located. This is a list of all his known BC paintings including the few that are known to be in private or public hands and the many whose location is unknown. From the catalogue of his 1883 exhibit in Victoria I have been able to identify 22 paintings. We are very lucky that Brown had photos taken of many of his paintings in 1883 to show to potential purchasers his range and pieces that might be commissioned. Where I can, I have linked the photos that have survived at the BC Archives to the paintings described in the catalogue, but given the general nature of some of the catalogue descriptions, and the fact that someone, other than Brown has put speculative titles on several photos of his paintings in the BC Archives, these linkages may not be accurate. Because some paintings have come to light that are neither photographed nor in the catalogue we can assume there are more out there. Moreover, Brown often did multiple versions of a given subject so there may be more than one of each subject out there.

Image Reference	Title	Date Drawn or Painted	Dimension	Location	Reference	Catalogue No or L- Reference No.	Description
Image Pdp00119 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Long Lake [Now called Kalamalka Lake] B.C.,	1883		BC Archives	Exhibit Catalogue	1	Catalogue: looking down the lake from the wagon road between Spallumcheen and Okanagan Valleys. Sketched October 9, 1882. BCA PDP00119 also photo HP23760 I80065.
Image A-8782 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Scene on Shuswap Lake, B.C.,	September 25, 1882		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	2	Catalogue: at the camp of the Canadian Geological Survey, located at the base of Angle Mountain, altitude, 6,060 feet. [Likely a view of what is today Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park 50.975179, -119.114027]
	After the Storm, Shuswap Lake, B.C.,	September 24, 1882.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	3	Catalogue: This scene represents the refereshing appearance of nature on the upper lakes after the frequent storms that occur at the beginning of the winter season. May be the same as L19.
	Entrance to the Harbor, Victoria, B.C.,	May 1883,		Uno Langmann Gallery	Exhibit Catalogue	4	Catalogue: looking out upon the Straits, from the shore back of the lighthouse. BCA note: The outer wharf, Victoria. [Fisguard Lighthouse in foreground]
Image H-03540 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Clover Point, Victoria, B.C.,	March 8 1883		Unknown	Unknown	5	Catalogue: view from Beacon Hill beach, BCA Note: A paintng of Clover Point, Victoria.
	Looking Down the Fraser River , from Hope, B.C.,	October 24, 1882.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue. Image from iGavel auction 11/15/2012 from the exhibition catalogue of plates, British Columbia Scenery, Victoria British Columbia, 1883 linked to exhibit brochure.	6	Catalogue: from Hope, BC. Fraser River above New West.
Image A-08778 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	The Gorge, Portage Inlet, Victoria, B.C., , view from the east bank.	April 24, 1883		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	7	Catalogue: view from the East bank. BCA Note: The Gorge, and the second bridge; Victoria.
Image A-08777 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Victoria Harbor, B.C.	April 3, 1883.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	8	Catalogue: from the foot of Fort St., Steamer Dakota entering.
Image F-1977 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Sunset on Shuswap Lake, B.C.	1882		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	9	Sketched September 29, 1882. BCA note: A lake in the Spillimacheen but I think this is in error Coincides with Colonist June 26, 1883 p. 3 " The gem of the collection, is undoubtedly that entitled "Sunset on Shuswap Lake," which is simply perfection from an artistic point of view alone independently of its resemblance to the original. The effects of distance have been carefully preserved, while the heavy clouds hanging overhead, whose lights and shadows have been successfully delineated, and the calm, clear water to reflect in gold and crimson ihe declining rays of the setting sun; and the foliage of the trees, which thickly fringe the shores, borrowing its brilliant shades from the same source, lends an additional beauty to this lovely scene. "
Image A-8784 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Early Morning at Vermillion Forks, B.C.,	n.d.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	10	or North and South Similkameen Rivers, looking S.W from Allison's, the Cascade range in the distance. Painting described in newspaper Colonist July 5, 1883 p 3 "the grandeur of the mountain scenery is portrayed with wonderful taste, the Cascade range unfolding the majesty of mountain scenery. " Sketched October 19, 1882. Not signed or dated. BCA Note farm on the Spillimacheen.
	Twilight on the South Thompson	September 15, 1882		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	11	Catalogue: looking up river. Purchashed by Lt. Governor Cornwall July 1883.
	Natures' Vase and Bo[u]quet	October 12, 1882		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	12	Catalogue: This scene is laid on the banks of the Okanagan Lake, B.C., and is noted for its rare and curious freak of nature [a cube of granite 15 feet high formed the "vase" for a "bouquet" of three cottonwood and maple trees in autumn foliage]. Painting described in newspaper Colonist June 26 1883 p 3. Representing a mass of granite that has fallen from the mountain above, but on whose surface sufficient soil has formed to rear large trees of several kinds. - on the shores of Okanangan Lake.
	Mount Baker	November 9, 1882		Private Collection	Exhibit Catalogue	13	Catalogue: from Regent's Park, Victoria, B.C. "a fine view of Mount Baker taken from opposite Trial Island" Colonist Nov 28 1882 p.3. BCA Note "Mount Baker and Trial Island Near Victoria. May be the image in L16.
Image F-1976 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Valley of the the Similkameen	1883		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	14	Catalogue: looking down the river from near Twenty-mile creek. Sketched October 16, 1882. [No signature or date on painting but appears in photo of Brown on easel from 1883. BCA note guesses this is Cat # 18 but mountain scenery not present at Spallumcheen.]
Image H-03544 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Thunderstorm on Shuswap Lake, B.C.	September 28, 1882.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	15	Catalogue: Sunlight breaking through on the afternoon of Sept 28 1882. BCA Note: "Long Lake" [from caption "Long LAke?" on image but I believe it is in error. Image meets the distinctive description of Cat # 15.]
Image A-08780 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Esquimalt Harbour, B.C.,	May 8, 1883.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	16
Image I-80078 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	The Gorge, Portage Inlet, Victoria, B.C., view from the west bank.	April 26, 1883		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	17	Catalogue: view from the west bank. Image BCA HP23778
Image F-1978 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	On the the Spallumcheen River, B.C.,	September 21, 1882,			Exhibit Catalogue	18	Catalogue: looking down the river from Belvidere Landing of Lambley Bros. [Now called the Shuswap River looking down river from Enderby]
Image PDP00124 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Above the Gorge, Portage Inlet, Victoria, B.C.	April 25, 1883.		BC Archives	Exhibit Catalogue	19	Catalogue: from the bridge. BCA PDP00124. BCA notation says the Daniel Fowler Adams home visible in the distance at centre. Also See I-80078. Bought in 1883 by Lt Gov Clement F. Cornwall and then acquired by R.P Rithet and hanged in Hollybank a/c to Colonist Aug 6, 1946.
	Race Rocks and Royal Roads from Esquimalt, B.C.,	May 1st, 1883.		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	20	Catalogue: From Esquimalt. Painting described in newspaper. Colonist June 26 1883 p 3. BCA Note "near Victoria Harbour".
	Mount Baker at Sunset	March 1, 1883,		Unknown	Exhibit Catalogue	21	Catalogue: view from Beacon Hill, Victoria, B.C.
Image PDP10284 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives.	Giant's Castle Mountain	1883		BC Archives	Exhibit Catalogue	22	Catalogue: from the farm of A. L. Fortune, head of navigation on the Spallumcheen River, B.C., Sketched October 6, 1882. [The farm of Alexander Leslie Fortune, one of the Overlanders of 1862, at what is now Enderby, B.C.. with Enderby Cliffs in the background.]
	View from Eli Lequime Store, R[oman] C[atholic] Mission, Okanagan Lake	October 10, 1882	9 ½ inches tall by 14 inches wide.	Mark Hummel Fine Arts		L1	Catalogue: sketch mentioned in newspaper. Colonist Nov 28 1882 p. 3 One of these unsigned works was a fall landscape with purple hills, overcast skies, and colorful foliage, painted on thin cardstock and measuring 9 ½ inches tall by 14 inches wide. Written on back in pencil was the following: “View from the Eli Lequime store, R.C. Mission, Okanagan Lake, B.C, October 10, 1882.”, from the second-story lodging roomsat the southern end of Long Lake.
	Montreal Ice Palace	1883		Unknown	Colonist Feb 25 1883 p 3	L2	Painting described in newspaper. The Ice Palace – Mr G.T. Brown, the artist, to whose paintings of British Columbia scenery we have had had occasion to allude in complimentary terms, has just completed a handsome picture of the Montreal ice palace. The picture which is very effective and spirited, will be place in the show windows of Messrs W.&J. Wilson tomorrow.
	The Gorge Portage Inlet			Unknown	Colonist July 5, 1883 p 3	L3	Painting described in newspaper. "This painting is so natural that a dreamer might suppose he was looking at nature itself. The foliage of the different trees in nature's variagated colors is equisitely put before the observer; the rocks and dells are nature's." (May be same as The Gorge from West Bank)
Image H-03542 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Fraser River above New Westminster, B.C.			Unknown	BCA H03542	L4	Not signed or dated. Title from BCA Note: Fraser River Abv New Westminster.
	Looking Down Fraser River, BC Above Stave River, Oct. 1882	October 1882	16 x 26 in.	Private Collection	mh@marthahenry.com	L5
	View of Lake Okanagan	1882		National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC	National Museum of African American History and Culture	L6
	Homestead at the Mouth of a Valley. Watercolor.			Dr. Sheryl L. Colyer, New York	Chandler, 217.	L7	Chandler says it is BC in 1880s. Chandler says it is BC in 1880s. May be the same as Item 10.
	Lake with Folded Mountains.			Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria	Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria	L8
	Sunset Stave Lake			Victoria Art Gallery	VAG Website	L9
Image PDP02153 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Dean's Farm Saanich			BC Archives	PDP00124	L10
Image PDP00120 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Spillimacheen	1883		BC Archives	PDP00120	L11	Also photo L11 BCA HP23768 I80071. Shuswap River -- near Enderby with Enderby Cliffs in background.
	Detail of Tree	1883		Unknown	Brown photo, BC Archives, A-08775	L12	Only a part of this image is visible in the photo of Brown in his studio but it is not consistent with other known images.
	Goldstream Falls	June 1883		Collection of Melvin Holmes, San Fran	Colonist June 29 1883 p 3 Colonist July 5, 1883 p 3 Lizette Collins, "Selling Promise of West" 36 BCA H03545	L14	One of his "Goldstream Falls" Painting described in newspaper as just completed. "The sketch was taken in the afternoon when the cool, refreshing pool below the falls is in shadow, above the falls the sun lights up the foliage in rich warm tints, giving the entire picture a clever picturesqueness." "the glorus tints of summer foliage under a bright blue sky is delicately handled - the waterfall itself looking as natural as it looks to the eye of those who say it falling into the midst of the cedar and pine of the forest." L13 has now been identified as the same as L14.
	Goldstream Falls	1885?	26x17.5	Hampton University Museum	Lizette Collins, "Selling Promise of West" 39; Chandler, 217.	L15	May be the same as L18.
Image F-1975 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives	Spallumcheen Country ?			Unknown	BCA HP23773 F1975	L16	Slab of granite fits Cat Item # 12 but the trees do not agree with description. BCA Cat says "Spillimachine country.
	[Detail of Tree 2]	1883	Unknown	Unknown	Brown photo, BC Archives, A-08775	L17	Only a part of this image is visible in the photo of Brown in his studio but it is not consistent with other known images.
	[L18 Goldstream Falls?]	1883	Colonist June 29 1883 p 3 Colonist July 5, 1883 p 3	Unknown	Brown photo, BC Archives, A-08775	L18	Only a part of this image is visible and blurry in the photo of Brown in his studio but it is not consistent with other known images of Goldstream though may be the same as L15.
	[Okanagan?]		15 3/4"x 26"		Sold to Uno Langmann Gallery at auction in Victoria October 21st 2018.	L19	May be the same as 3 ‘After the Storm, Shuswap Lake, B.C.