Prints of Niagara Falls
1811 to 1820
[ 1801 to 1810 | Index | 1821 to 1830 ]
A print from the first American ornithology. The inset view of the Falls is taken directly from Wilson's [42] "General View of the Falls of Niagara."
45. "Rapids of the Niagara falls." From The Port Folio. Vol. VI; No. 1. Philadelphia: Bradford & Inskeep, and New York: Inskeep & Bradford, July 1811. 3 3/8 x 6. Aquatint. Dow: 919; Fielding: 1857.
Two early American aquatints were published in the July 1811 issue of The Port Folio, "The artist who furnished us with the plate...has made an attempt, at a mode of engraving, new in this country." (p.43) One of these prints was this view of rapids at Niagara and the other was "From Burlington bay on Lake Champlain," both prints being drawn by the same anonymous artist. This image of Niagara is confusing, but it probably shows the rapids just above the American Falls, looking at Goat Island to the left and the brink of the falls to the right. Support is given for this interpretation by the depiction in the image of two individuals holding staffs, for the account in the magazine tells of men crossing to Goat Island using such poles, "..., persons have been found, daring enough to pass from the American shore to Goat island, in the middle of the river, by means of long poles, with which they sustained themselves against the pressure of the current." (p.43) If this analysis is correct, then the brink of the American Falls is very indistinctly shown, which could be explained by the fact that this print was an early effort at aquatinting and the engraver may have had problems showing at distinct line at the brink using this medium. This supposition is supported by the remark in the text indicating that this print was not a complete success, "As an encouragement to future exertion, we have been induced to give it [this print] a place in the present number, and shall endeavour, by the superiority of our next, to atone for the deficiencies of the present." (p.43)
46. George Cooke. "Falls of Niagara." From John Pinkerton's A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels. London: Longman, Hurst, Ross, Orme & Brown, 1812. 5 1/4 x 7 7/8. Engraving by G. Cooke. Seibel1: 24.
This view by Cooke states that it is "from an Original Drawing," but it is in fact a derivative of Alexander Wilson's view "General View" [42].
46ad. Robert Sutcliff. "The Falls of Niagara." From Travels in Some Parts of North America In The Years 1804, 1805 and 1806. Philadelphia, 1812. 3 x 5 1/8. Engraving. Seibel: 82.
Robert Sutcliff was a Quaker who traveled to America on business. Though he kept a journal of his trips and also made several drawings, Sutcliff did not intend to publish his account until friends persuaded him that it might prove useful in the instruction of young people. The first edition was published in York, England, in 1811, the year Sutcliff and his family emigrated to Philadelphia. The following year Sutcliff's work was issued in an American edition, and unfortunately, Sutcliff died from a fever he contracted while assisting in fighting a fire. The British edition of Travels contained six plates, but the American edition included only one plate, this image of Niagara Falls.
47. After Alexander Wilson. "General View Of The Falls Of Niagara." In Horatio Gates Spafford's A Gazetteer of the State of New York. Albany: H.C. Southwick, 1813. 4 1/8 x 6 7/8. Engraving by Peter Maverick. Fielding: 1052; Seibel1: 63.
Peter Maverick's direct copy of Alexander Wilson's [42] "General View."
48. John Melish. "View of the Country round the Falls of Niagara." From Travels In The United States Of America. In The Years 1806 & 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811. Philadelphia: J. Melish, 1812. First state. 6 5/8 x 4. Engraving by J. Vallance. Dow: 887; Seibel 1:64.
This map was also issued in the 1813 edition of Melish's Military and Topographical Atlas and in later editions of both the Travels and the Atlas. The map was also sold separately, as stated in an advertisement in Melish's 1819 Traveller's Directory, "Octavo Maps of Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburg, Zanesville, Falls of Niagara, Falls of Ohio, East End of Lake Ontario and Montreal--12 1/2 cents, each." A second state of the map exists without Melish's or Vallance's name in the bottom two corners.
49. After Aaron Arrowsmith. "The Great Falls Of Niagara." Vignette inset on map, "Northern Provinces of the United States." From John Thomson's New General Atlas. Edinburgh: J. Thomson, 1817. Vignette ca. 2 3/4 x 5 1/8; map 19 1/2 x 23 1/4. Engraving by N.R. Hewitt. Dow: 888; Seibel1: 97.
This inset is closely based on an inset on Aaron Arrowsmith's 1796 "A Map of the United States of North America." The same image also was used on a map of the United States by P.F. Tardieu in 1801 (cf. Deák2: 208). The image is quite accurate, showing the Falls from Prospect Point, indicating that it was probably based on an on-the-spot drawing, perhaps by a British military officer. Dow cites the map as being by "Thompson" rather than the correct "Thomson."
49a. "Map of Niagara Falls and Vicinity in 1805." After 1818. 7 3/4 x 10 1/4. Lithograph.
A map showing Niagara Falls, New York, as it was in 1805, issued sometime after 1818. The map includes a lettered key to the sites and also illustrations of "Fort Schlosser," "Fort Little Niagara," "Augustus Porter's House. Built In 1808, Burned In 1813, Rebuilt In 1818," and "Steadman House. Built In 1761. Burned in 1813."
50. After C. Metz. "The Falls of Niagara." Vignette inset on James Wyld's map, "United States." From A General Atlas. Edinburgh: John Thomson & Co., [1819]. Vignette ca. 1 1/2 x 3 1/4; map 8 3/4 x 11 5/8. Engraving by N.R. Hewitt. Adamson1: 12.
This inset on Thomson's map is a variation of Metz's image of the same title [18].
50a. After Pierie/Wilson. "Total Anblick des Niagara Falls." UL: "No 1."; UR: "321." From Neueste Laender- und Voelkerkunde. Prague, 1820. 3 1/8 x 5 1/2. Engraving.
A somewhat crude reduction of the 1768 Pierie/Wilson print [13].
51. "The Falls of Niagara." Ca. 1820? 6 3/4 x 21 3/4. Engraving. Deák2: 244; Dow: 889; McKinsey: 30; Seibel1: 96.
A long and narrow print on wove paper. The copy in the Erie County & Buffalo Public Library has an 1820 date written on it. This print was probably derived from Vanderlyn's [35] "A Distant View of the Falls of Niagara," though not directly. It is similar to [38] "Le Saut du Niagara" and may be based on that print or from a common source. What is likely a slightly later edition of the print [58] was issued in 1823.
51ad. "The Falls of Niagara." UL: "plate 4". UR: "page 154". Ca. 1820? 3 1/8 x 5 1/8. Etching.
An interesting print with no clear source. The format is somewhat derivative of the Hennepin-Hancock images, but updated from Isaac Weld's prints. This is perhaps based on a first hand drawing, put into the form made familiar by all the Hennepin derivatives. In any case, the image is quite correct in many features (e.g. Bridal Veil Falls), and this is the only print of the period which shows small islands just above the American Falls.
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