Harpers Ferry, Virginia

DateProbably 1842-1855

MediumWatercolor and graphite on wove paper

Dimensions22" x 27 1/4" (55.8 cm. x 69.2 cm.) unframed; 24" x 30" (60.9 cm. x 76.2 cm.) framed.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1931.302.2

DescriptionWatercolor landscape. River scene with large, round, grey boulders in foreground and along right side. Trees and rocks along left side, and huge mountains in background to right. Three men sitting or standing on rocks fishing in river. Several tiny beige houses to the left with grey roofs. The houses are on small rocks near the river and are dwarfed by the huge grey boulders all around the blue river. Trees are indicated by blue-green areas with black squiggles on them. The sky is light blue. Painted in subdue tones of grey, blue and green. Very simply drawn.
Label TextUltimately, this composition derives from a work by the well-known Hudson River painter Thomas Doughty (1793-1856). The unidentified watercolorist probably based his or her picture on an engraving after Doughty that appeared on page 156 of The New York State Tourist Descriptive of the Scenery of the Hudson, Mohawk and St. Lawrence Rivers (New York, 1842). T. C. Story (active 1837-1842) was the engraver of the book plate. The composition is somewhat unusual for the viewpoint, since most artists painted the town and surrounding landscape from one of the higher elevations provided by the riverside hills and cliffs.
InscribedHandwritten in pencil in script in the left side of the lower margin of the primary support is "Harpers Ferry, Virginia." In pencil in script inthe center of the lower margin is wording that appears to read identically.
ProvenanceFound in New Haven, Conn.; Edith Gregor Halpert, Downtown Gallery, New York, N.Y.; Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.; Given to C. W. by Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.