It is surprising that a definitive biography has never been written of Major General James Pattison Cockburn (1779-1847). His long career as a topographer (the mapping and otherwise recording the natural features of a landscape) for the British army took him to far-flung military engagements: the capture of the Cape Colony in 1795, the expedition to Manila in1798, the siege of Copenhagen in1807 and two extensive tours of duty in Canada. His topographical training at the Royal Military College, Woolwich, resulted in an exacting drawing style. He often worked in graphite, pen and brown ink, or sepia wash, making him both an asset on the battlefield and a skillful artist. He wrote and illustrated numerous travel books during his military service including: A Voyage to Cadiz and Gibraltar, (1815), Swiss Scenery (1820), The Route of the Simplon (1822), The Valley of Aosta (1823) and Pompeii Illustrated (1827). He reported on sketching trips in northern Italy's Aosta Valley in 1816 and our sepia landscape sketch was probably taken at St Martin on Arve a popular location with artists. The drawing is marked “42” in the lower right corner and was most likely part of a sketch book. Two other sketches accompanied this one, but they are badly foxed. If the paper can be restored, they will appear on this site in future. Condition: Excellent. Dimensions: Image, 8" x 5.5". Frame, 11" x 14".