THE CATSKILLS SUNRISE FROM THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

THE CATSKILLS SUNRISE FROM THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN

Entry/Object ID

L.2012.72

Description

In this view, which encompasses the eastern prospect from South Mountain, two tiny figures are literally dwarfed by the sweeping scene before and around them. While Henry Fenn may have taken artistic license with the rugged expansiveness of the Catskills in this work, the exaggeration seems apt for the context, editor William Cullen Bryant's Picturesque America. The natural rocky outcroppings and blasted trees add to the dramatic effect, as does the vertical orientation of the image. In fact, visitors could re-create the scene in this illustration for themselves. Watching the sunrise from this vantage, located near the Catskill Mountain House, was a must-do on the itinerary of many 19th-century tourists making the Hudson River journey. Engraving of sunrise as viewed from mountaintop looking over valley, river, and distant mountain range: rocky cliff with two small figures on left side; jagged rocks and trees in immediate foreground; sun rising above horizon in distance; at bottom left, printed: "HARRY FENN."; at bottom center, printed: "Entered according to Act of Congress, A.D.1872. by D. Appleton & Co. in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington."; at bottom right, printed: "S.V.HUNT."; at bottom center, printed: "The Catskills."'/ "SUNRISE FROM SOUTH MOUNTAIN."/"New York, D. Appleton & Co."

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Harry Fenn

Attribution

Artist

Artist

S. V. Hunt

Attribution

Engraver

Manufacturer

D. Appleton & Company

Date made

1872 - 1900

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

12-7/8 in

Width

9-5/8 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 12 7/8 x 9 5/8 in. (32.7 x 24.4 cm)

Material

Paper (wove), ink

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Mat stain or light burn visible as rectangle around image; crease at top edge, center; 3/8 inch tear and crease at left edge near top; paper irregularly cut; verso: tape residue along top edge.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

William Diebold

Notes

Former owner

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

This object was accessioned in 2012, but it was acquired earlier [Jessa J. Krick, 4/12/2012].

Note Type

General Note

Note

Illustration from: Picturesque America / William Cullen Bryant. N.Y. :[c1872-], v. 2. Steel engraving by S.V. Hunt after painting by Harry Fenn.

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Archive Room, Shelf O3, B7

Note Type

Department

Note

Library