1774 View of the Cataract of Niagara, with the country adjacent
To the Right Hon.ble Lady Susan O'Brien, this View of the Cataract of Niagara, with the country adjacent is most humbly Inscribed by her Ladyship's most obed't and Obliged h ble Serv't William Pierie.
By: Richard Wilson (publisher) / William Byrne (engraver)
Date: Feb 28, 1774 (dated) London
Dimensions: 17.75 x 20.75 inches
An original, uncolored example of the rare, earliest printed view of Niagara Falls, engraved from a drawing taken on the Spot by Lt. Piere of the Rl. Artillery. 1768.
This impressive 18th century print present Niagara Falls in its most natural state from the view of the Canadian side looking upon Horseshoe Falls to the right and American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls at center and left respectively. Small groups of people can be found in the foreground and as several birdy fly about overhead.
Though portions of the text are lost in this example the description of the falls reads as follows...
This stupendous cataract is near a mile wide, and falls over a perpendicular Rock of 1 70 Feet high, which interrupts the Passage of the River Niagara for some miles, between the Lakes Erie and Ontario, on the Frontiers of the Province of New York in North America. Size of the Picture 6f. by 5f.
As stated in the title, this print was dedicated to Lady Susan O'Brien, who was the eldest daughter of Stephen Fox, the first Earl of Ilchester. She was an actress who married a fellow actor William O'Brien. Due to a social scandal caused by their elopement, they left England and set sail for New York in September 1764. When in colonial America, they travelled widely, sailing up the Hudson, travelling west to Niagara Falls, and then north to Quebec where O'Brien briefly served as a barrack master. Lady Susan O'Brien, much like anyone else who visits Niagara Falls must have been very fond of the sight, sound, and energy of the largest waterfall by volume in North America.
Condition: This print is in B condition with with several tear that have been professionally closed, mostly confined to the bottom margin, but with a few longer separations that enter the image.
Inventory #92067
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622