For the first time the Rijksmuseum is showing The Gordon Atlas in its entirety. This unique work consists of no less than six volumes with 456 drawings, many of them in watercolour and some eight metres long. The drawings date from the expeditions made by Robert J. Gordon in 1777-1786, when he was sent to the Cape Colony by the Dutch East India Company. On his travels along the coast and through the interior Gordon gathered information on the fauna, the flora, the geology, the local population, the weather and the topography. The drawings, which were done not only by Gordon but also by others travelling with him, provide an accurate picture of South Africa in the 18th century.
Rijksmuseum Web Site
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TRAVEL CALENDAR
