View of Yorktown, Virginia
Date1834
Artist
John Gadsby Chapman
(American, 1808 - 1889)
DimensionsOverall (Framed): 24 1/2 in. × 31 7/8 in. × 1 3/4 in. (62.23 cm × 80.96 cm × 4.45 cm)
Credit LineAcquired through the generosity of Lucy S. Rhame and an anonymous donor, 2017
Conservation courtesy of The Founders, Washington Committee Endowment Fund
Object numberH-5534/A-B
DescriptionPainting: A horizontal, rectangular landscape painting of Yorktown on a cliff above the York River looking across to the opposite shore. The foreground is occupied by a clump of trees set in the exposed soil of the cliff side. The houses of Yorktown are visible to the left. Most appear well kept, but the most prominent is heavily deteriorated with siding falling off the exterior wall. At the base of the cliff are two houses, and there are cows wading in the river. There are several small boats in the river and the shoreline across the river is dotted with houses.Formerly inscribed on back of stretcher: “VIEW OF YORKTOWN—drawn on the spot by J.G. CHAPMAN, 1834.” The stretcher is replaced but the inscription is preserved on a jelly label glued to the new stretcher.
Frame: Original gilded frame with flat stepped profile in the Greek Revival style. Three steps descend towards the narrow sight edge and the painting. The frame is composed of two parts, a frame and a liner, assembled with mitered joints. The outside edges of the frame are painted yellow/brown.
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1857/1859
1781
1760-1790