Richard Short

Artist Bio: Richard Short (active 1754-1766)

Richard Short was a topographical artist and engraver, known for views of naval engagements. He was a British Naval Officer serving under Vice-Admiral Saunders and fought under Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham.

Short was one of the first British topographical military artists to depict scenes in Canada. Following the Fall of Quebec in 1759, he came to Halifax and executed a series of views of the city which were published as engravings in London in 1761 (some of these were hand-coloured). The views depict Halifax as it was barely 10 years after its founding in 1749. The city had grown rapidly into a major naval base designed to protect the New England colonies from the French, who operated out of their base in Louisbourg, Cape Breton. The composition and design of Short’s pictures of Halifax are pleasing. The perspective is good, and the buildings are all very well handled.