Plate
This black and white transfer-printed earthenware plate made by the Staffordshire firm of James & Ralph Clews features a view of the countryside near Sandy Hill, New York. The road in the foreground leads to Glens Falls, New York and Fort George, Canada. A few small buildings are perched above the waterfalls in the middle distance along the banks of the Hudson River. Although not identified as such, the falls are probably Baker's Falls located about one mile from Sandy Hill. In the early nineteenth century, they were nearly seventy feet high and powered two gristmills, two sawmills and a bolting mill situated above them. The view by Clews was based on an 1820 watercolor by Irish painter William Guy Wall (1792–after 1864) reproduced by London-born New York engraver John Hill (1770–1850) as an engraving titled "View Near Sandy Hill" in Henry J. Megarey's "Hudson River Portfolio" (New York, 18231–1825). 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 its headwaters in the Adirondack Mountains to where it meets 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. 1822–ca. 1834
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: Diam. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
- Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
- Object Number: 14.102.196
- 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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