Artist
Carleton E. Watkins(American, 1829–1916)American, 1829–1916
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Multnomah Falls, Cascades, Columbia River
Date1867
PlaceOregon, United States
MediumAlbumen silver print from glass negative
DimensionsImage: 20 11/16 × 15 3/4 in. (52.5 × 40 cm)
Sheet: 20 11/16 × 15 3/4 in. (52.5 × 40 cm)
Mount: 26 15/16 × 21 7/16 in. (68.4 × 54.5 cm)
Sheet: 20 11/16 × 15 3/4 in. (52.5 × 40 cm)
Mount: 26 15/16 × 21 7/16 in. (68.4 × 54.5 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Photography Subcommittee and the Director's Accessions Endowment
Object number89.376
Non exposé
Explore Further
Department
PhotographyObject Type
the long history, ancient ruins, and impressive urban centers of Europe,
19thcentury American photographers turned to the natural, wooded cathedrals of
the Western landscape to celebrate
American individuality. Carleton Watkins was one of the leading photographers
of the American West. In 1867 he began a series of photographs along the
Columbia and Willamette rivers in Oregon, which resulted in more than 60
mammothplate negatives. This example of Multnomah Falls captures the entire
twotiered, 620foot fall of water framed by towering, ancient trees, a
breathtaking vista of pristine natural forms unique to the western United
States.
Provenance[Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco]; purchased by MFAH, 1989.
Exhibition History"Past/Present: Photography from the Permanent Collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 8, 1991–February 9, 1992.
"American Photography: A History in Pictures," San Antonio Museum of Art, April 21–July 31, 1994.
"The American Landscape East to West: Themes in Painting and Photography, 1780-1910," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 6, 2003–January 19, 2004.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in ink on mount recto, bottom center beneath image: Multnomah Falls // Cascades, Columbia River.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
Carleton E. Watkins
1867
Albumen silver print from glass negative
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Carleton E. Watkins
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Albumen silver print from glass negative
2010.1808
Carleton E. Watkins
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Albumen silver print from glass negative
2004.789
Carleton E. Watkins
1861
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2017.424
Keystone View Company
c. 1914
Gelatin silver stereograph
2004.1220.222
