Plate
This black and white transfer-printed earthenware plate made by the Staffordshire firm of James & Ralph Clews features a view of the historic town of Troy, New York located on the eastern banks of the Hudson River. Laid out in 1787, the town was partially destroyed by fire in 1820. However, the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 made Troy an important commercial and industrial center for the duration of the century. Two horse boats also traveled daily between Troy and the opposite shore of the Hudson transporting goods six miles north to Albany via turnpike. The bird's-eye view of Troy by Clews illustrates Troy from the vantage point of Mount Ida, a local peak celebrated for its picturesque beauty. It was based on an 1820 watercolor by Irish painter William Guy Wall (1792–after 1864) reproduced by New York engravers John Rubens Smith (1775–1849) and John Hill (1770–1850) as an engraving titled "Troy From Mount Ida" in Henry J. Megarey's "Hudson River Portfolio" (New York, 1821–1825). Among the finest series of New York State views ever published in the nineteenth century, the "Portfolio" traced the journey of the Hudson River from it s headwaters in the Adirondack Mountains to where it joins the East River in New York Bay. Capitalizing on the growth of trade and tourism in the Hudson River region, Clews used nineteen of the twenty views in the "Portfolio" for its series of approximately twenty-three “Picturesque Views" manufactured for the United States export market with borders of flowers, foliage, C-scrolls and exotic birds perched on zigzag meanders. The American Wing's collection contains additional pieces by Clews, including others from the same series. It also contains original works by Wall. Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about Clews.
Artwork Details
- Title: Plate
- Maker: James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
- Date: ca. 1821–ca. 1834
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: Diam. 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm)
- Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
- Object Number: 14.102.108
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1824–34
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1815–ca. 1834
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1821–ca. 1834
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1825–ca. 1834
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1822–ca. 1834
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