The George Keyt Foundation and British High Commission are presenting a rare exhibition of oil paintings, watercolours, and lithographs created by British artists during the 1800s, offering insights into how the island was visually interpreted during the colonial period.

A new exhibition titled 19th Century Views of Ceylon opened this week in Colombo, displaying works by British artists who documented the island during the 19th century. Organised jointly by the George Keyt Foundation and the British High Commission, the show runs through August 1st at Westminster House and features rare artistic interpretations ranging from early topographical studies to more atmospheric representations of the landscape and people.

The collection spans the work of multiple artists across the century, beginning with Henry Salt, whose 1809 plate of Point de Galle marked one of the earliest professional British artistic renderings of Ceylon based on direct observation. Samuel Daniell, a member of the renowned Daniell family of topographical artists, contributed twelve detailed plates published in 1808 that document the island's natural history and ecology. As British colonial expansion progressed inland, artists including Lieutenant William Thomas Lyttleton and Captain John Deschamps captured views of previously undocumented areas such as Kandy and the western coast.

The exhibition features works by artists with varying levels of direct experience with the island. While many visited Ceylon to create their works, some such as James Stephanoff produced depictions without ever setting foot on the island. Notable figures include Edward Lear, the famous literary nonsense writer and landscape artist, who created over seventy drawings during a brief 1874 visit, and Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming, the exhibition's sole female artist, whose vivid bodycolour works reflect both personal observation and the complexities of colonial-era perspectives.

The organisers emphasise that these artworks simultaneously serve as valuable historical records of 19th century Ceylon while reflecting the beliefs and power structures of their era. A 200-page companion book featuring nearly 100 illustrations is available for Rs. 6,000 if ordered by August 1st, thereafter Rs. 7,500. Exhibition entry is free but requires advance registration through the George Keyt Foundation website.