Item 32: A Colored Lithograph titled, “Forest Scene on the Lehigh,” by Frances Flora Bond Palmer and Currier and Ives, after Karl Bodmer, (removed to Print Box #2), [c. 1857-1872]
Item — Box: 21, Folder: 32
Dates
- Created: [c. 1857-1872]
Creator
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Colored Lithograph
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
26 ¼ in. x 20 ⅝ in.
Title:
Forest Scene on the Lehigh
Description:
A colored lithograph published and lithographed by Currier and Ives depicting the Lehigh River, after a drawing by Frances Flora Bond Palmer who created their drawing after an original by Karl Bodmer. There is much foliage in the background as well as wildlife scattered throughout the piece. The Lehigh River spans 109 miles across northeastern Pennsylvania and is a tributary of the Delaware River. Flowing from the Pocono Mountains it passes through Allentown and much of the Lehigh Valley, eventually joining with the Delaware River in Easton. The name of the river is derived from the anglicisation of the Lenape name, Lechewuekink, meaning “where there are forks.”
The attribution on the drawing is given to Palmer, however, with a comparison to a like manuscript in the collection, item 21.33, we can infer that it was drawn from Bodmer’s original drawing, though his name does not appear on the manuscript.
According to Valley Views of Northeastern Pennsylvania, by Gilbert S. McClintock, “Plainly a copy of Bodmer (Plate 58), but no acknowledgement made to him, and credit is given to F. Palmer as the artist.” This print was originally created by Karl Bodmer, then copied by Frances Flora Bond Palmer and Currier and Ives. Currier and Ives was a printmaking company based in New York City between 1835 and 1907. It was founded by Nathaniel Currier. The business designed and sold rather inexpensive, hand printed lithographs based on popular culture, news events, and Americana. It advertised itself as “the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints.” The name changed to Currier and Ives when James Merritt Ives joined the partnership.
Born on July 24, 1812, Frances Flora Bond Palmer, also known as Fanny Palmer, was an English artist who gained success in the United States by being a lithographer for Currier and Ives. She died August 20, 1876. Johann Carl Bodmer, born February 11, 1809 was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter. He is better known as Karl Bodmer in his literature and paintings. The change of signature was likely due to the birth of his son, Charles-Henry Barbizon, that he began to sign his works K Bodmer. Bodmer was also well known in Germany for his watercolors, drawings, and aquatints of cities and landscapes of the Rhine, Mosel, and Lahn rivers.
Location:
Lehigh Water Gap
Transcription:
F. PALMER, DEL. LITH. BY CURRIER & IVES, N. Y.
*[Del/ Drew] [Lithographed]
FOREST SCENE ON THE LEHIGH.
NEW YORK, PUBD. BY CURRIER & IVES. NO152 NASSAU STREET.
Creator
- Palmer, Frances Flora Bond, 1812 – 1876 (Person)
- Bodmer, Karl, 1809 – 1893 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu