Aurora, Vera Cruz, 1828

Pen-and-ink sketch of HMS ‘Aurora’ at the port of Veracruz, Mexico. The peak of Citlaltépetl, the highest mount in Mexico, is visible in the distance. The sketch is inscribed in the top right corner ‘Aurora. Vera Cruz 1828’, and there is what appears to be a name or signature in the bottom right. The ‘Aurora’ (formerly ‘Clorinde’) visited Veracruz in August 1828, shortly before sailing back to Britain after two years on the Jamaica station. The ship’s commander at the time was Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Charles Austen. This drawing – along with three others also depicting the ‘Aurora’ (ZBB0371–3) – came to the Museum with a collection of sketches by naval officer Aiskew Paffard Hollis (see ZBB0352–69 and ZBB0374–84). However, the four ‘Aurora’ drawings date from after Hollis’s retirement from active service and are not consistent with his style. It may be that Hollis received these drawings as a gift from his nephew, Lieutenant (later Captain) Joseph Paffard Dickson Larcom (1795–1850), who was serving on the ‘Aurora’ in 1828.