BERMUDA was first represented in the visual arts in elaborate maps created by skilled European cartographers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Generally represented as an isolated, barren and treacherous shoal of rocks, it was only after the island began to open itself up to the outside world that artists began to depict a Bermuda that was rich in wildlife and elements that begged to be captured on canvas, paper, in sculpture and photography.An important breakthrough came in 1885 with the arrival of the SS Trinidad, which brought goods, and more importantly, visitors, on a regular basis to Bermuda and it was also during this period that artists arrived in droves, including Winslow Homer.

Considered one of America’s greatest artists, Homer exhibited works inspired by his Bermuda visits in the Buffalo Pan-American Exhibition in 1901, a world’s fair that drew hundreds of thousands of visitors — and which boosted awareness of the island throughout North America.

As a direct result of Homer’s Bermuda paintings, a cascade of artists began arriving in Bermuda to seek inspiration, laying the foundation for the colourful art community that exists today.

Some of these new visitors included Prosper Senat, who first arrived from Philadelphia in the late 1880s and wintered here almost every year until 1925, as well as W.F Snow, George Swanson, Alfred Birdsey and Frank W. Wood.

It was their Bermuda-inspired work and that of countless authors and poets that ultimately inspired Anthony Pettit to start collecting unique pieces of Bermudiana - from the earliest maps, to books, prints, paintings, photographs and unique ephemera.

His hobby continued for more than 20 years until friends and family encouraged him to expand his collection and start a business.

That was 18 years ago and since then Mr. Pettit has produced four catalogues highlighting important and unique pieces of Bermudiana, some which have sold for thousands of dollars over the years.

“I came here in 1965 and in 1966 I found my first Bermuda book, a very early one, and that sort of inspired me because I wondered why there was so little Bermuda material around,” he recalls. “I wanted to enhance people’s collections and finding these things ... now that’s my hobby.”

However finding these rare pieces can be a challenge: “It’s just having the right contacts .... I look on the internet, but that does not produce that much really and there’s also intense competition for it, so it’s just a matter of searching, which has been great fun. And I’ve learned an awful lot about Bermuda’s past in the process.”

The former Berkeley Institute Latin teacher says he has about 80 Bermuda paintings in his collection “which I think is quite extraordinary because there aren’t that many of them around.”

What is difficult to find are good 19th century representations of black Bermuda. Two of his favourite pieces depict two young black children by Mary Parker West, painted in the early 19th century.

“They came up at auction in London and why I was lucky enough to get that catalogue I don’t know, because I don’t use auction house catalogues that often,” he says with a smile.

The two oil on canvas masterpieces were eventually donated to the Bermuda National Gallery by the couple who bought them from Mr. Pettit.

Another favourite, which is currently in the possession of the Bermuda National Trust at the Waterville Museum, is of two blockade runners from 1864.

Mr. Pettit and his wife Marjorie, had the paintings up on their lounge wall for years and while he was quite happy to keep them there for years to come, he feels they are more appreciated now while on display at Waterville.

As for whether or not he prefers “collecting” paintings, Mr. Pettit says books, prints, maps and paintings are all important to him, but paintings hold a special place in his heart and parting with them can be quite hard sometimes.

“You do fall in love with them, but you have to be realistic and there is a time when they have to go. But I am happy knowing they are going to good homes and part of the fun is when you go to someone’s house and see a painting displayed with pride and you can say ‘I found those for you’.”

Most of the paintings have been bought by individual collectors and companies over the years, but ultimately they all remain in Bermuda - which is something Mr. Pettit feels very strongly about.

He believes it’s important that these works of art be cherished and shared with future Bermudian generations, which is why some have also ended up at The Masterworks Foundation, the Maritime Museum and the Bermuda National Gallery.

When asked if he sees himself as a collector, Mr. Pettit laughs and responds: “Oh no .... I’m a dealer. I dealer of old Bermuda paintings, prints, maps and books.”

Occasionally he gets coins, but admits that he does not know much about them and knows even less about stamps, adding that Bermuda’s climate is not ideal for stamp collecting because the humidity affects the glue and ultimately their value.

Looking at his collection Mr. Pettit feels each piece affords him a glimpse of back in time to what Bermuda was like and how it was perceived by artists from different parts of the world, over different periods in history.

He refers to a painting by Karl Gaertner, dated 1924 of an alleyway St. George’s. The painting is dark and gloomy, with only one source of light and reflects the artist’s perception of the world during the immediate post-World War One period.

Mr. Pettit’s collection can only be viewed by appointment and anyone interested in purchasing a piece of history can call him at 292-2482.