François-Benjamin Vayron
The America

Public Domain

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Images(3)

Artist François-Benjamin Vayron (French, c. 1795–1860, active 1836–1860)French, c. 1795–1860, active 1836–1860

PublisherPublished by Agustoni (Paris)Paris

CultureFrench

Titles

The America
L'Amerique
La America

Date1854

Printed inParis, France

MediumLithograph with watercolor hand coloring on wove paper

DimensionsImage: 9 1/8 × 11 5/16 in. (23.2 × 28.7 cm)
Sheet: 10 × 14 in. (25.4 × 35.6 cm)
Frame (outer): 12 1/4 × 16 1/4 in. (31.1 × 41.3 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Jas A. Gundry

Object numberB.2015.20

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionThe inscription beneath the image on this lithograph reads, “America gathers in its two continents the most opposed climates and most different countries. The vegetation is fertile and varied, impetuous rivers, immense lakes, mountains whose snow-covered peaks hang in the clouds, animals, reptiles huge or terrible, birds that reflect all colors of the rainbow, forests, most of which are still virgin.” The print personifies America as a Native American female, a long-established convention. Here, she seems to be guarded by other Native figures, while European figures also look on. The print was probably one of a group of four that included America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
ProvenanceJas A. Gundry, Houston; given to MFAH, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, above image, center: The América
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, left: Paris Agustoni fs r. St Jacques 30
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, right: Lith. Vayron r. Galande 51 Paris
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, left center: L'AMÉRIQUE / L' Amerique réunit dans ses deux continents les climats les plus opposes les pays les plus differ / ents. Vegetation feconde variée, fleuves impetueux, lacs immenses, montagnes dont les cimes couvertes / de niege se pendant dans les nues, animaux, reptiles ou gigantesques ou terribles, oiseaux qui qui réfle / tent toutes les couleurs de l'arc-en-ciel, forets dont la plupart sont encore viergea[sic: vierge], etc. [cursive]
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, above image, right center: LA AMERICA / La America reune en sus continents los climas mas diferentes. Vege / tacion fecunda y variada impetuousos, logos immensos montanas cuyas cimas cubiertas de / nieve, se pierdeu [sic: pierda] en las nubes, animals, reptiles gigantescos o terribles que reflejan todos/colores del arco iris, bosques en cuya mayor parte, la hacha y el fuego no han abierto. [cursive]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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