← Albert Bierstadt

Sketchbook of Columbus Subjects: Caravels, Figures, Heraldry, and Accessories

Original title: Sketchbook of Columbus Subjects: Caravels, Figures, Heraldry, and Accessories

Artist

Albert Bierstadt

Date

ca. 1891

Medium

Drawings in graphite on off-white wove paper with gilt edges, bound in a leather cover

Dimensions

Cover: 4 3/4 x 7 3/4 x 7/16 in. (12.1 x 19.7 x 1.1 cm) Sheets: 4 5/8 x 7 1/2 in. (11.7 x 19.1 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Marguerite H. Rohlfs, 1995

kurzbeschreibung

Around 1891, Albert Bierstadt filled a sketchbook with graphite drawings on cream-colored wove paper. Caravels, figures, heraldic motifs, and accessories related to Christopher Columbus are gathered within. The paper has gilt edges, and the volume is bound in a leather cover.

Description

The cover is black, with the word 'Autographs' written in flowing silver script. This inscription sits at the center and fills almost the entire surface. Scratches and abrasion testify to years of use. There are no ornaments or further images on the cover at all.

Context

In a late phase of his career, around 1891, Bierstadt turned increasingly to history. At that time, a broad American public took up Columbus themes, especially with an eye to 1892 and the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. Bierstadt, otherwise known for landscapes, here tried his hand at a historical subject.

Impact

The restrained, elegant binding with its silver lettering exudes a quiet dignity that hints at the artistic content within. The traces of use give the piece a credible patina and emphasize its historical rank.

Technique

Graphite drawings on cream-colored wove paper, its edges adorned with gilt, form the core of the book. Leather was chosen for the binding, suggesting careful execution. Such durable material combined with fine draftsmanship was typical of artists' sketchbooks of the period.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)