Map of Canton Ticino (1874)
In the early 1860s Butler spent four years in New Zealand, where he explored the little-known territories of the South Island and established a homestead by the Rangitata River in Canterbury District. The mountainous landscape and the physical challenges that came with it suited Butler. Although he settled permanently back in England, his frequent vacations to Europe saw him travel thousands of miles, often on foot – and always in the spirit of adventure, with a desire to experience and understand the local culture.
Between 1865 and 1902 Butler visited Italy at least 25 times. The Alpine country in the north was a favoured destination, and he often used Faido as a base for his excursions to the villages on either side of the valley. On this map Butler has marked in red some of the paths he followed on these walking expeditions. The routes pass by many of the locations featured in his drawings, paintings and notes.