Name/Title
THE TWO LAKES AND THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE ON THE CATSKILLSEntry/Object ID
L.2007.22Description
The Two Lakes, and the Mountain House on the Catskills was originally published in American Scenery: Or, Land, Lake and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature. Publisher George Virtue commissioned William H. Bartlett to illustrate American Scenery, with text by Nathanial Parker Willis. Bartlett completed his watercolor drawings during two visits to America between 1836 and 1838. The drawings were engraved starting in 1837 by numerous English engravers and were published by subscription.
The Catskill Mountain House was the first large hotel built for the burgeoning Catskill tourist trade. Completed in 1825, its location offered a commanding panoramic view of the river valley.
Steel cut engraving of hunters looking a large structure overlooking two lakes in the mountains: scene framed by two nearly bare pines at either side; in the foreground on the left, two figures stand on a cliff; one figure faces the viewer, the other points his rifle towards the lake; in the right foreground, three deer walk downhill, the last one turning to face the viewer; at center, a lake surrounded by a dense pine forest; three small deer stand in the lake; a large building and an outhouse overlook the lake; behind the building is a steep drop to a valley below, through which a miniscule train moves; low in the sky, the sun; below the scene, on far left corner, printed: "W.H.Bartlett."; in center, printed, a miniscule "50"; on far right corner, printed: "J.C. Bentley."; in center, the title, printed: "THE TWO LAKES AND THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE ON THE CATSKILLS."; on bottom left the title translated to French, printed: "LES DEUX LACS ET LA MAISON DE LA MONTAIGNE SUR LE CATSKILLS."; on bottom right the title translated to German, printed: "DIE BEIDEN SEEN UND DAS HOTEL AUF DEM GEBIRGE CATSKILL."; at 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
Joseph Clayton BentleyAttribution
EngraverManufacturer
George VirtueDate made
1839Dimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
8-1/2 inWidth
11-1/4 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 11 1/4 in. (21.6 x 28.6 cm)Condition
Notes
Remarks: Yellowing and wear along edges; loss bottom left corner; near loss top left corner; two tears, bottom center edge; recto has gray discoloration throughout and two large areas of discoloration in center.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
William DieboldNotes
Former ownerRelated Entries
Notes
L.2007.53 - Engraving - Similar item
L.2007.54 - Engraving - Similar item
L.2007.197 - Lithograph - Similar itemGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Diebold Box #45Note Type
General NoteNote
The Two Lakes, and the Mountain House on the Catskills is plate number 50 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, B4Note Type
DepartmentNote
Library