Dr. Victoria Dickenson has written an essay, which you can read here, that provides a comprehensive account of the preservation and history of René Gabriel de Rabié’s collection of watercolor drawings.
The watercolours were painted between 1767 and 1784 in Saint Domingue, and depict various aspects of natural history. Despite enduring numerous upheavals, including revolutions and wars, the collection remained intact. It was eventually acquired by Casey Wood in 1930, and is now in McGill University’s Blacker Wood Natural History Collection. The meticulous annotations and preservation efforts suggest a collaborative family project, possibly involving de Rabié’s grandson, Armand Gabriel Paparel de la Boissière. The essay traces the journey of the collection, highlighting its significance and eventual public accessibility thanks to the efforts of Dr. Casey Wood.
Hidden Hands in Colonial Natural Histories 