Junction of the Sacandaga and Hudson Rivers (No. 2 of The Hudson River Portfolio)
Medium
Aquatint printed in color with hand-coloring; first state of two
Dimensions
Image: 14 1/16 x 20 3/16 in. (35.7 x 51.3 cm) Sheet: 19 x 24 1/2 in. (48.3 x 62.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
Accession Number
54.90.1274(2)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the serene confluence of the Sacand and Hudson Rivers in this print, the second installment of *The Hudson River Portfolio (1821–22). Created by a talented ensemble—including watercolorist William Guy Wall, aquatinter John Hill, and printers like the Rollinsons—this work captures the majestic Hudson Valley landscape with rolling hills, lush trees, and shimmering waters. Part of a groundbreaking 20-print series, it celebrates the natural splendor of New York's Hudson River, a vital artery of early American commerce and exploration. What sets this aquatint apart is its innovative medium: color-printed with delicate hand-coloring, in the rare first state of two. Aquatint, a technique using resin-dusted plates for soft, painterly tones, allowed Hill to translate Wall's luminous watercolors into affordable multiples. Published by Henry J. Megarey and W. B. Gilley, the portfolio was a commercial triumph, making high-quality American scenery accessible to the public and fostering national pride amid post-War of 1812 optimism. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Edward W. C. Arnold Collection, this print exemplifies the dawn of the Hudson River School movement, blending Romantic reverence for nature with technical prowess. It invites visitors to ponder the timeless allure of America's wild frontiers.