Natural Bridge, Virginia

John Henry Hill

1 of 2

Object Label

The Natural Bridge of Virginia was hailed in early travelers’ reports as a geological wonder rivaled only by Niagara Falls in its awesome sublimity. A tiny figure seated in the right foreground of this work dramatizes the soaring height of the towering rock formation, whose looming arch dominates the composition. Hill was probably drawn to this much-frequented picturesque site even more strongly because of his Ruskinian fascination with the study of geology and geological processes such as erosion—an interest that reflected modern artists’ more scientific approach to landscape painting.

Caption

John Henry Hill American, 1839–1922. Natural Bridge, Virginia, 1876. Watercolor over graphite on very thick, slightly textured wove paper mounted to a secondary paper, 21 1/4 x 14 1/8 in. (54 x 35.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard L. Milberg, 82.85.2. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 82.85.2_SL1.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

American Art

Title

Natural Bridge, Virginia

Date

1876

Medium

Watercolor over graphite on very thick, slightly textured wove paper mounted to a secondary paper

Classification

Watercolor

Dimensions

21 1/4 x 14 1/8 in. (54 x 35.9 cm)

Signatures

Signed and dated lower right: "J. Henry Hill 1876"; signed and inscribed verso lower right: "The Natural Bridge Va Painted May 1876. J. H. Hill"

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard L. Milberg

Accession Number

82.85.2

Rights

No known copyright restrictions

This work may be in the public domain in the United States. Works created by United States and non-United States nationals published prior to 1923 are in the public domain, subject to the terms of any applicable treaty or agreement. You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this work. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). The Museum does not warrant that the use of this work will not infringe on the rights of third parties, such as artists or artists' heirs holding the rights to the work. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of protected items beyond that allowed by "fair use," as such term is understood under the United States Copyright Act. The Brooklyn Museum makes no representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement governing copyright protection in the United States for works created by foreign nationals. For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Have information?

Have information about an artwork? Contact us at

bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.