Unusual Sandstone Formations on the Upper Missouri

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Unusual Sandstone Formations on the Upper Missouri

Date

August 6, 1833

Dimensions

12 1/8 × 7 5/8 in. (30.8 × 19.4 cm)

Medium

Watercolor on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.196

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

In his journal entry for August 6, Maximilian remarked that the travelers entered "the most interesting part of the whole course of the Missouri, the Stone Walls." He also mentioned that Bodmer's desire to sketch the more unusual formations along either bank of the river necessitated crossing back and forth from the left to the right bank. The boat was often unable to turn from side to side quickly, and Maximilian observed, "While one was sketching here, one was called again to the other side, and the boat sped forward with a sailing wind. The strangest mountain figures flee away like thoughts, and one really regrets having to trade them off every moment for new, still stranger ones."

References in Journal

August 6, 1833

Labels:

study , Missouri River , study, geological

Approximate Depicted Location:

Upper Missouri River