Cropsey, Jasper F. “American Autumn, Starucca Valley, Erie R. Road"

Jasper F. Cropsey.  “American Autumn, Starucca Valley, Erie R. Road.”  [Susquehanna County, 50 miles north of Scranton]. 

Philadelphia: Thomas Sinclair, 1865.  Chromolithograph by William Dreser.  15 ½ x 26 ½. (image).  Minor spotting and some abrasions in sky.  Else, good condition.  A/A

An excellent example of mid-nineteenth century American chromolithography.  Chromolithography was originally developed to enable printmakers to produce images of the texture and richness of oil paintings.  Some of the most important artists of the period, including Jasper Cropsey, William Harnett, and Frederick Church, had their paintings reproduced using this complex medium.  This is one of the most successful such projects, with chromolithographer William Dreser, using many layers of color, being able to closely follow the appearance of the original painting.  This print is not only superb artistically, but also has a fascinating history.  Uranus H. Crosby, of Chicago, built an opera house which he intended to donate to his city.  Construction costs ran much higher than expected and Crosby needed to raise funds to finish.  He thus held a lottery, the winner of which was the opera house and another prize of which was the original painting of this scene.  In order to increase sales, Crosby gave a copy of this print to anyone who purchased at least four tickets.  The scene, by Cropsey, shows the Starucca Valley located in the Poconos Mountains.  It is a wonderful rendering of a northern Pennsylvania scene in the height of autumn.