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Fort Simpson, British Columbia

Image credit: Wellcome Collection

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Notes

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The painting shows the town of Fort Simpson in British Columbia, Canada, so called after its fort, shown on the left. The painting is signed and dated 1802: the artist may have meant to write 1902, or he may have thought he was depicting the town as he imagined it in 1802, though the fort had not then been built. The houses of the native citizens are shown around the bay with totem poles and other elaborate wood-carvings. On the right is the Hudson Bay Company's steamship the 'Beaver', which was in salvage at the time the present picture was painted: the canvas for the painting is lined with embossed wallpaper removed by the artist from the inside of the same ship. The painter Frederick Alexkcee (or Alexcee, Alexis, Allxcee, Alexix, Alexcie, Alexie) was a Native American who lived in Port Simpson, the name given to the town after its fort had burnt down.

Wellcome Collection

London

Title

Fort Simpson, British Columbia

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 43.7 x W 147.7 cm

Accession number

45055i

Acquisition method

purchased by Henry S. Wellcome, c.1900–1936

Work type

Painting

Inscription description

Drawing by Frederick Alexkcee Fort Simpson B.C 1802

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Wellcome Collection

183 Euston Road, London, Greater London NW1 2BE England

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