Item 215: Photograph of an Oil Painting titled, “The Lackawanna Valley,” by George Inness, 1854
Item — Box: 22, Folder: 38
Dates
- Created: 1854
Creator
- Inness, George, 1825-1894 (Person)
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:
Photograph
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
8 ½ x 11in.
Title:
The Lackawanna Valley
Description:
This is a photograph of an oil painting depicting the Lackawanna Valley. The painting is located in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and was painted by George Inness.
Lackawanna is located in northeastern Pennsylvania and is part of the Commonwealth. Created in 1878, this county harbors one of Pennsylvania’s major cities, Scranton. It was the only county to be created after the American Civil War and is named for the Lackawanna River.
According to Valley Views of Northeastern Pennsylvania by Gilbert S. McClintock, “In the obituary notice of the death of George Inness the New York Herald on August 12, 1894, made the following comment upon this picture, ‘This painting was originally commissioned by the first president of the D.L. and W. R.R. Inness journeyed by stage to Scranton to make a preliminary sketch, lost his bag, and had to write his wife for funds. He returned and executed the present canvas; this was at first declared unsatisfactory by the railroad committee, who insisted not only that he show all four trains of the road but that the letters D.L and W. appear on the locomotive. Inness demurred, but being in need of money was persuaded by his wife to make the necessary additions. The sequel may be quoted in Inness’ own words: ‘Here, for instance, is a picture I made of Scranton, Pa., done for the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad, when they built the road. They paid me $75. for it. Two years ago, when I was in Mexico City, I picked it up in an old curiosity shop. You see I had to show the double tracks and the road house, whether they were in perspective or not. But there is considerable power of painting in it and the distance is excellent.’”
George Inness was born on May 1, 1825 and was an American landscape painter. He was influenced by the Hudson River School and is considered as one of the most influential artists of this century. He studied the Old Masters and was introduced to the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, which influenced his work in the subject of spiritualism and maturity. Inness’s style was ever evolving and he created more than 1,000 paintings over the course of his life. He died August 3, 1894.
Location:
Lackawanna Valley, Pennsylvania
Transcription:
{annotation}
#779
FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON D.C.
Title: The Lackawanna Valley
Artist: George Inness (1825-1894)
School: American
Please Credit: NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON D.C. Gift of Mrs. Huttleson Rogers
{1854 (Painting)}
Creator
- Inness, George, 1825-1894 (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