William James Bennett / CURRIER & IVES, WEST POINT [NEW YORK], FROM PHILLIPSTOWN

Lot description

BENNETT, William James (1787-1844). West Point, from Phillipstown. Aquatint engraving with original hand color. New York: Currier & Ives, c. 1860. 18 1/4" x 25" sheet. A unusual and scarce print. One of the only engravings produced by Currier & Ives whose work was primarily in the form of lithography. This print was originally issued in 1830 by W. J. Bennett and at some point in the latter 1850's the copper plate was acquired and reprinted by the firm of Currier & Ives. In "Picturing America" by Gloria Deak this print is described, "The quiet majestic surroundings of the West Point Military Academy, located in a beautiful section of the Hudson River Valley, are the focus of the artist's attention in this appealing aquatint. The academy itself, diminished in emphasis, is seen in the distance on a summit to the left. The Hudson River, here about fifty miles from New York City in the vicinity of Garrison, New York, makes graceful turns as it glides through the mountains embracing it on either side. The dense foliage on the elevated southeast bank of the river, where the artist stood to make his drawing, is delineated with richness and variety… Two large Goats that share the limelight in the center foreground and lend a pleasing bucolic touch have chosen to turn their backs on the picturesque panorama. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, to whom the artist has dedicated his aquatint, assumed command as superintendent of the Military academy at West Point on 28 July 1817…." (#375).