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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.
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