Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Exterior View of the Telegraph House in 1857-1858.

by Robert Charles Dudley

Title

Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Exterior View of the Telegraph House in 1857-1858.

Artist

Robert Charles Dudley

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Exterior View of the Telegraph House in 1857-1858. Artist: Robert Charles Dudley (British, 1826-1909). Dimensions: Sheet: 6 13/16 x 10 1/4 in. (17.3 x 26 cm). Date: 1865-66.
One of the 19th century's great technological achievements was to lay a telegraphic cable beneath the Atlantic, allowing messages to speed back and forth between North America and Europe in minutes, rather than ten or twelve days by steamer. An initially successful attempt in 1858, led by Cyrus W. Field and financed by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, failed after three weeks. Two working cables were finally laid in July and September 1866, the result of repeated efforts by the indefatigable Field, a cadre of engineers, technicians, and sailors, two groups of financial backers, and significant help from the British and United States navies. This watercolor by Dudley shows the Telegraph House in Newfoundland, Canada at the cable's western end. Part of a series documenting the long, arduous process, this image was reproduced as a color lithograph in William H. Russell's 1866 book "The Atlantic Telegraph" (92.10.100 and 61.536.5). In 1892 Field donated art works by Dudley, a copy of Russell's book, commemorative medals, memorabilia, and specimens of cable to the Museum. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Uploaded

June 21st, 2019

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags