Name/Title
ENTRANCE TO THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS, NEAR NEWBURGHEntry/Object ID
L.2007.29Description
This image, the title page for a set of engravings, helped to introduce readers to the wonders of the American landscape without leaving the comforts of home. Publisher George Virtue commissioned artist William Bartlett to illustrate American Scenery and Nathaniel Parker Willis to write the text. Bartlett completed the watercolors during two visits to America in the 1830s. Several different hands completed the engravings, which were published in installments. Subscribers could have the prints bound into volumes with this title page when the installments were complete in 1840. Although the work was intended to be a wide-ranging survey of American scenery, a large percentage of scenes are related to the Hudson River, an indication of its beauty and importance in the eye of the artist, the publisher and, consequently, of subscribers. Several key images from this set are included in the exhibition.
Colored steel plate engraving of sailboats and a rowboat in the Hudson Highlands: low in the sky and partially covered by light clouds, the sun; steep and tree-covered mountains; in the middle of the river, a tree-covered island; numerous sailboats and one rowboat with two figures within; on the river; the still water reflects the sun, mountains, and boats; above the scene, in center, printed: "AMERICAN SCENERY, I BY I N. P. WILLIS, ESQ. I ILLUSTRATED IN A SERIES OF VIEWS I BY I W.H. BARTLETT."; below the scene, on far left corner, printed: "W.H.Bartlett."; in center, printed a miniscule "118"; on far right corner printed: "R. Wallis."; in center, the title, printed: "ENTRANCE TO THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS, NEAR NEWBURGH."; on bottom left the title translated to French, printed: "ENTRÉE DU PLATEAU L'HUDSON PRÈS DE NEWBURGH."; on bottom right the title translated to German, printed: "DER WEG IN DAS HOCHLAND AM HUDSON BEI NEUBURGH."; on bottom center, printed: "LONDON: I PUBLISHED BY GEORGE VIRTUE, 26 IVY LANE. I R. MARTIN & CO NEW YORK".Artwork Details
Medium
Paper (wove), Ink, Watercolor, Paper (wove), ink, watercolorMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
William Henry BartlettAttribution
ArtistArtist
Robert WallisAttribution
EngraverManufacturer
George VirtueDate made
circa 1840Dimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
10-3/8 inWidth
8-1/8 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 10 3/8 x 8 1/8 in. (26.4 x 20.6 cm)Condition
Notes
Remarks: Loss top left corner; abrasion right center; tear bottom left, three inches from bottom edge, mended with adhesive tape; small tears along left edge; soil and traces of watercolor throughout; abrasion of ink, bottom right (Neuburgh); crease center and bottom center; recto is slightly soiled; writing in pencil top right; abrasion and accretion from removed adhesive tape, bottom center; yellowing adhesive tape top center; adhesive tape mending tear, bottom right.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
William DieboldNotes
Former ownerRelated Entries
Notes
L.2007.199 - Lithograph - Similar itemGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Diebold Box #35
This plate served as the frontispiece of Volume II of American SceneryNote Type
General NoteNote
Entrance to the Hudson Highlands is plate number 67 in American Scenery: Or, Land, Lake and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature. Publisher George Virtue commissioned William H. Bartlett to illustrate American Scenery, for which N.P. Willis wrote the text. Bartlett completed these watercolor drawings during two visits to America between 1836 and 1838. The drawings were engraved starting in 1837 by numerous English engravers and published in installments of four engravings. Subscribers could have the prints bound in two volumes in 1840 when the installments were complete.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Archive Room, Shelf O3, B5Note Type
DepartmentNote
Library