Milbert - View of the Natural Bridge, Virginia. 53

Milbert - View of the Natural Bridge, Virginia. 53
This scarce and historic folio lithograph is from Jacques-Gerard Milbert's Itineraire pittoresque du fleuve Hudson et des parties laterales. The work was published in Paris by Henri Gaugain between 1828 and 1829.

The work illustrated and recorded scenes of New York including the Hudson River, New York City, West Point, Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs, and Niagara Falls. It also included depictions of Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The lithograph available is from the first edition of the work and are on india paper, mounted.

Jacques-Gerard Milbert (1766-1840) was a French naturalist, artist, geographer, and engineer. He spent eight years in the United States exploring and sketching the country, flora, and fauna. He sent back near 8000 specimens to the Museum of Natural History in Paris.

"As an artist, Milbert loved to paint American landscapes, particularly those which showed the Hudson, 'King of Rivers, ' flowing majestically through the mountains ... boundless curiosity, plus a contagious enthusiasm and a delightful sense of humor, make the journal as lively a document today as when it was penned a hundred and forty years ago. The pictures of what he saw, as of the time he drew them, constitute a unique and valuable record." (Sherman)

"Milbert sailed from Havre on the 1st of September, 1815, and arrived in New York on the 20th of the following October. He settled in New York, where his first work was the making of several drawings of the mechanism of steamboats. He soon, however, turned to portrait-painting, and taught drawing. Milbert was later attached to the commission in charge of the leveling preparatory to the establishment of the Champlain Canal. In this connection he made a journey in one of the large steamers plying upon the Hudson. It was on this voyage that he collected much of the material for his Itinéraire Pittoresque.

"A few years after his arrival in New York he was charged by M. Hyde de Neuville, the French Minister, with the preparation of certain collections of natural history specimens, destined for the King's Garden in Paris. In his report on this collection, which is printed in full in his Itinéraire Pittoresque, he styles himself 'Voyageur, Naturaliste du Gouvernement et Correspondant du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle au Jardin du Roi.' It was through Milbert's efforts that the first living specimen of the American buffalo was introduced into France." (Stokes Iconography of New York)


Paper Size: ~ 17" by 12"

The work is in very good to excellent condition. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
~ 17" by 12"