Name/Title
THE PALISADES--HUDSON RIVEREntry/Object ID
L.2007.3Description
This image is one of the well-known illustrations engraved after William Henry Barlett for American Scenery. Here, the artist represents the range of watercraft that plied the river for much of the 19th century. With smaller sailboats in in the distance, the wind-powered sloop is moored near two steamships. One of these appears loaded with cargo and other, a double-decker intended for travelers. Even the most humble river conveyance of them all, the rowboat, has been included. Bartlett places all before the backdrop of the Palisades, among the most easily-identified landmarks along the Hudson.
Steel cut engraving of various kinds of boats on the Hudson below the cliffs of the Palisades: on left, a man stands near crate on a raft made of logs tied together; a sloop with five figures docks next to the raft; two figures row across the river in a rowboat; four boats lined up next to each other in the center of the river; a small boat on the left; a two-tiered barge laden with barrels next to it; a steamboat with passengers; and farthest from the viewer, a smaller passenger boat; sailboats scattered throughout the river; sheer, treeless cliffs rise over the scene; a group of black birds fly above the cliffs at right; below the scene, at far left corner, printed: "W.H.Bartlett."; on far right corner, printed: "C. Cousen."; in center, the title, printed:"THE PALISADES-HUDSON RIVER."; on bottom center, printed: "London, Published for the Proprietors, by Geo: Virtue, 26, Ivy Lane, 1839."Artwork Details
Medium
Paper (wove), Ink, Paper (wove), inkMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
William Henry BartlettAttribution
ArtistArtist
Charles CousenAttribution
EngraverManufacturer
George VirtueDate made
1839Dimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
8-1/2 inWidth
11-1/8 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 11 1/8 in. (21.6 x 28.3 cm)Condition
Notes
Remarks: Tear bottom center; wear along left edge; yellow stain top center; fingerprint bottom left; soil top, above image; recto slightly soiled.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
William DieboldNotes
Former ownerRelated Entries
Notes
L.2012.162 - Engraving - RelatedGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Diebold Box #35Note Type
General NoteNote
The Palisades- Hudson River is plate number 7 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