Steel cut engraving of mountainous landscape with falls on the viewer's left: the image is framed by a pine tree on either side of the foreground; a third, shorter pine tree grows in the center of the foreground; two yellow birds fly to the right of this tree; water cascades down the rocky side of an otherwise tree-covered mountain; two brown wooden structures sit at the top of the falls; a stairway curves up the side of the mountain; miniscule figures climb the stairs; on the right, the view opens up to blueish wooded mountains behind; the sun is low in the sky and masked with dark clouds; below the scene, on far left corner, is printed, "W.H.Bartlett."; in center is printed a miniscule "68"; on far right corner is printed, "J.T. Willmore."; in center, the title is printed, "THE CATTERSKILL FALLS [Kaaterskill Falls]. I from above the Ravine)."
Artwork Details
Medium
Paper (wove), Ink, Watercolor, Paper (wove), ink, watercolor
Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
William Henry Bartlett
Attribution
Artist
Artist
James Tilbitts Willmore
Attribution
Engraver
Manufacturer
George Virtue
Date made
circa 1840
Dimensions
Dimension Description
Overall
Height
7-7/8 in
Width
10-3/4 in
Dimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 7 7/8 x 10 3/4 in. (20 x 27.3 cm)
Condition
Notes
Remarks: Yellowing along edges; small loss, bottom right corner; crease bottom left gorner; small loss top left corner; pencil marks top corners; foxing along edges; stain along left edge, 2 ½ inches from bottom edge; linear mark bottom center; scratch, top right; recto has soil and yellowing beneath image; two pieces of white adhesive tape along top edge; erased writing in pencil, top right; small blue accretion, bottom left.
Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
William Diebold
Notes
Former owner
Related Entries
Notes
L.2007.31 - Engraving - Similar item
L.2007.75 - Engraving - Similar item
General Notes
Note Type
Curatorial Remarks
Note
Diebold Box #45
Note Type
General Note
Note
The Catterskill Falls (From above the Ravine) is plate number 69 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
StorageNote
Note
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Archive Room, Shelf O3, B4