This rare album of the Gennadius Library is comprised of watercolours showing remarkable locations at the town of Corfu and surrounding area. The drawings date from the 1830's and their creator is unknown. Pencil-written notes on each watercolour specify the subject-matter of each drawing. Several of the paintings are in colour, and others in sepia.

The album also includes some views of Ioannina and the coast of modern-day Albania opposite Corfu. The artist renders his subject with realism,. Both the serene landscape of the island with its rich vegetation, and the built environment, mainly Venetian architecture, convey a sense of tranquility. Human figures in snapshots of everyday life add vividness to the compositions and offer a precious testimony on traditional costume.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Top: Landscape at Lefkada. Bottom: House at Cephalonia, possibly the house of Countess Valsami.

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  Procession of Saint Spyridon at Corfu (August 1839). On the left, the Spianada with the statue of Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, leading figure during the siege of Corfu by the Ottomans.

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  Commercial street, Corfu

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  Entrance to the church of Saint Spyridon, Corfu.

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  Streetlet at Corfu.

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  Citadel of Corfu (the Old and New Fortresses).

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  Streetlet at Corfu.

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  Streetlet at Corfu, possibly close to Kontokali. In the background, the Lazaretto (quarantine station).

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  View of Sarantari bastion, with the triple gun battery (tre pozzi), Corfu (1839).

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  Street near the country house of British consul Taylor, close to Kanoni, Corfu.

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  View of the town of Corfu from the south (from Mon Repos). In the background, the Old and New Fortresses.

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  View of the church of Panagia of Vlachernae and the pass of Pantaleone, Corfu.

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  View of the mountains of Albania from village near the town of Corfu. In the background, the Old and New Fortresses (1839).

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  Chalikiopoulou lagoon seen from Kanoni, Corfu.

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  Kontokali, Corfu (1839).

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  Village at Corfu.

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  Landscape at Corfu.

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  Landscape near Analipsi hill, to the south of Mon Repos villa, Corfu. In the background, the mountains of Epirus.

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  Landscape at Corfu.

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  The road from Agioi Deka to Stavros, Corfu (1839).

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  Olive tree outside country house (1840),

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  Olive tree outside country house (1840),

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  Cross commemorating the death of a British soldier on the road to Paleokastritsa, Corfu (1840).

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  View of Garitsa, Corfu (1839).

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  Ioannina in 1834.

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  The castle (right), palace and tomb of Ali Pasha as seen from the island of Ioannina lake.

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  Top; Mantouki, Corfu (1839). Bottom: The view south of the race track of Corfu (1838).

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  View of the church of Panagia of Vlachernae and Pontikonisi, Corfu.

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  Landscape at Corfu.

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  View of the town of Corfu from Kynopiastes.

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  View of Corfu from Garitsa, outside the northern wall of the city. According to a tradition this was the garden of the mythical king Alcinous.

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  The town of Corfu seen from the chestnut wood on the road to Kombitsi.

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  The town of Corfu seen from the chestnut wood on the road to Kato Garouna.

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  Top: View of the town of Corfu with the Old and New Fortresses. Bottom: The palace of Saint Michael and Saint George or Old Palace (today Museum of Asian Art).

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  The palace of Saint Michael and Saint George or Old Palace (today Museum of Asian Art) and the Spianada at Corfu.

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  The monastery of Panagia Platytera, Corfu.

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  The palace of Saint Michael and Saint George or Old Palace (today Museum of Asian Art) and the Spianada at Corfu.

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  Entrance to the old town of Corfu. In the background, the Old Fortress.

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  The town of Corfu with the Old and New Fortresses as seen from the sea.

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  Part of the Venetian fortification of the town of Corfu.

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  View of Corfu. In the background, the Rotonda, monument to Thomas Maitland, first Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian islands.

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  Church near Palaiopolis, Corfu, possibly the early Christian basilica of Palaiopolis, dedicated to Panagia Anafonitria.

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  View of the Old Town of Corfu. In the foreground, the Byzantine fortress of the city. In the background, the Venetian fortress.

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  The road to Kanoni, Corfu. On the right, early Christian basilica of Palaiopolis, dedicated to Panagia Anafonitria.

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  The Old Town of Corfu as seen from Kastrades bay (Garitsa).

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  The village of Kastrades (today Garitsa) and the Old Town of Corfu.

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  View of Corfu from the north.

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  The road to Kanoni, Corfu.

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  The road from Kanoni to the town of Corfu.

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  Springs at Chrysiida, to the south of the town of Corfu.

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  View of the Old Town of Corfu from the Byzantine temple of Saints Jason and Sosipater at Garitsa, Corfu.

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  Landscape at Corfu.

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  Shipyards at Garitsa, outside the northern wall of Corfu. According to tradition, this was the location of the gardens of mythical king Alcinous.

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  Top: Landscape at Corfu. Bottom: Streetlet at Kynopiastes, Corfu.

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  Top: Church of Saint Roque on Saroco square (today Theotoki square) at Corfu. Bottom: Church of Saint Barbarus at Potamos, Corfu.

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  Top: Church, probably Analipsis (Ascension) church at Corfu, 1838. Bottom: Bell tower of the church of Saint Barbarus at Potamos, Corfu.

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  Top: View of Garitsa. Bottom: Landscape at Corfu.

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  Chestnut wood north of the town of Corfu.

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  Kontokali, Corfu.

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  Chalikiopoulou lagoon as seen from Analipsi, Corfu, in 1838.

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  Kontokali, Corfu.

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  Landscape at Kefalomantouko, close to the catholic cemetery of Corfu.

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  Palaiokastritsa as seen from Angelokastro, Corfu.

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  Sinarades village, Corfu.

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  The village of Analipsi (Ascension), to the south of Mon Repos villa, Corfu.

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  Byzantine church of Saints Jason and Sosipater at Garitsa, Corfu.

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  Benitses, Corfu.

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  Shooting box at Agia Aikaterini in Acharavi, Corfu.

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  Village on Messonghi river, Corfu.

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  Landscape on the road to Gastouri, Corfu.

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  Seaside village at southern Corfu close to Moraitika.

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  The mouth of river Messonghi, Corfu.

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  Monastery of Palaiokastritsa, Corfu.

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  Mantouki, Corfu.

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  Top: View of the port of Vathy, Ithaca. Bottom: Port of Paxoi, October 1834.

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  View of the port of Saranda, Albania. In the background, on the left, the Ottoman castle of Lëkurësi.

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  Part of the fortifications of the castle of Lëkurësi at Saranda, Albania (August 1839).