An important 19th century watercolour by Edward James entitled 'Confederate Blockade Runners 'Maude', 'Campbell' and 'Hansa' in St. George's Harbour, 1864' has been presented to the Government Archives for preservation and safekeeping.

In a small ceremony at the Bermuda Archives this week, Bermuda National Trust (BNT) collections committee chairman Hugh Davidson, executive director Jennifer Gray, and curator and collections manager Andrew Baylay handed over the 140-year-old painting to Government archivist Karla Hayward.

Successful acquisition of what was probably the most expensive James painting to date was made possible through the combined fundraising efforts of the BNT, Archives, and private donors.

"The shared purchase of the James watercolour cements a long-standing and enduring partnership between the Bermuda National Trust and the Government Archives," Mr. Davidson said.

The large format James watercolour portrays St. George's Harbour at the height of the Southern Blockade, running between 1861 and 1865, and will join other James paintings belonging to the BNT at the Bermuda Archives.

"The Trust owns the largest collection of James' works on the Island, with at least five known to have been painted for the then-American Consul, Charles Maxwell Allen," Miss Hayward said. "James' works are a rich source of detail of the American blockade at the east end of the Island during the Civil War. Their placement in the Archives rather than at the Trust's museums stems not only from the need to preserve and protect the fragile 140-year-old watercolour from Bermuda's subtropical climate, but also to provide a primary resource for the Archives' readers by adding a visual dimension to the already rich documentary evidence in the Government collections."

Briton Edward James was the Surveyor General in Bermuda at an important time in the Island's maritime history: the 1870s and 1880s.

The artist, who lived in a small house on the Town Square in St. George's, was also known for his wit and eccentric dress.

As part of the Island's 400th anniversary celebrations next year, and as further evidence of the partnership between the BNT and Bermuda Archives, Miss Gray confirmed that the two entities will collaborate on presenting an exhibition of many important pieces in the Archives collection, including some of the James works.

Meanwhile, the public is invited to view the newly-received James painting in the Reading Room of the Bermuda Archives, located on the lower level of 30 Parliament Street, Hamilton, until December 31, after which it will be available by appointment.