Oil on canvas painting of Chickee's Rock and the Susquehanna River, depicting several modes of transportation. The left side is dominated by Chickee's Rock, with the Samuel S. Haldeman mansion (demolished 1911) at its base. The Susquehanna Canal runs along the base of the cliff, with a canal boat on it. A dirt road runs from bottom center off to the left with an oxcart hauling multiple sacks and driven by a man in a hat.
The river appears in the lower right quadrant. A man in a rowboat is rowing across the river and the covered bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville is in the far distance.
Mounted in a gold-painted modern frame (not original). Painting is signed "F. deB. Richards / 184[0 or 6]" on a rock at bottom right. A plaque attached to the bottom center of the frame reads "VIEW OF CHICKEE ROCKS / SUSQUEHANNA RIVER / by F. de B. Richards - 1840".
A red-bordered paper sticker attached to upper left of stretcher reads: "209 F. de B. Richards/ 1840 VIEW OF CHICKEE Rocks/ SUSQUEHANNA RIVER/ CANVAS/ 35 x 47 $3,500" The back of the canvas originally had the inscription: "View of Chickee Rocks/ Susquehanna River Painted by F deB Richards/ Wilmington/ 1840" This has since been covered up or replaced.
According to vendor, "Before 1856 (Richards) exhibited chiefly PA views" and was a landscape painter in NYC 1844-45 and in Phila. 1848-66.
Born in Wilmington, DE in 1822, Richards would have been 18 years old if he executed this painting in 1840. The Oxford Gallery notes that "By 1840, he was perfecting his skills as an artist as a student."
Provenance
Harry Shaw Newman of the Old Print Shop bought the painting from dealer Charlotte Sittig of Delaware, PA. She had purchased it at an antiques show at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, DE, in the early 1970s.
Crazed paint throughout. A grouping of small stains/marks in upper right, about 8" down from top and 13" from right. Frame has some nicks and paint loss along the edges.
Painting was cleaned, revarnished and relined in the early 1970s.
Object ID
P.79.097.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
George Washington's Triumphal Entry into New York City
Description
Lithograph Print of George Washington's Triumphal Entry into New York City.
Print shows George Washington and other military officers riding on horseback along street (to the viewer's right), spectators line the street, and others observe from balconies and through windows.
Published by Geo. T. Perry, c1860 (Phila. : Printed in oil colors by P.S. Duval & Son)
William Albright, or Albrecht, was born May 23, 1793 in Lancaster, PA. During his lifetime he worked as a printer, ornamental painter, lithographic artist, limner, dancing-master and teacher of drawing.
Between 1820 and 1836, Albright published a German-language newpaper in Lancaster, the 'Staatsbothe,' as well as the 'New and Improved North Americna Almanac.' Albright moved to Phila. in 1837 where he spent his remaining years teaching art.
On Christmas Day in 1821 William Albirhgt married Mary Weaver. The had one daughter, Anna M. Albright (1822-1855). The birth and death dates of Mary Weaver Albright are unknown.
Pencil drawings with white highlights on brown paper. Shows a rocky hill with trees on both sides. Artist signed "Wm Sanford Mason/1854" in pencil on a rock on right side of the drawing. In lower right corner "Safe Harbor, PA" is written in pencil. Below is a window cut in the tan mat showing a white piece of paper with the following written cursively in brown ink: "Presented to F. D. S. ?/ Artist - 1860/ Phil-"
A clipping is pasted on the back (obituary/bio) giving details of his life and career. William Sanford Mason (1824-1864)
Sticker on Reverse: The Frame Shop, Santa Rosa, Calif.
