Lyndhurst for George Merritt, Tarrytown, New York (west [rear] elevation and plan)

Art Historical Context

In 1865, renowned American architect Alexander Jackson Davis this exquisite architectural drawing for the expansion of Lyndhurst a Gothic Revival mansion inarrytown, New York commissioned by financier George Merritt. The sheet presents the west (rear) and floor plan, capturing the home's dramatic silhouette with its pointed arches, steep gables, and ornate detailing—hallmarks of the Gothic Revival style that Davis championed. Originally designed by Davis in 1838 for William Paulding Jr., Lyndhurst was enlarged in the 1860s to reflect Merritt's wealth and the era's Romantic fascination with medieval-inspired grandeur. Rendered in watercolor, ink, and graphite on paper, the work showcases Davis's mastery of mixed media, blending precise graphite lines for structural accuracy with vibrant watercolor washes to evoke texture and atmosphere. Measuring 18⅞ × 26⅝ inches, this drawing exemplifies 19th-century architectural renderings, which served as both practical blueprints and promotional visions for elite clients. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it highlights Davis's pivotal role in shaping America's picturesque domestic architecture during the antebellum and post-Civil War periods. Lyndhurst endures as a National Trust for Historic Preservation site, offering visitors a tangible link to Gilded Age opulence and Davis's enduring legacy.

About the Artist

Alexander Jackson Davis · 1803–1892

Alexander Jackson Davis (1803–1892) was a pioneering American architect whose imaginative designs helped define the nation's picturesque country house tradition. Born in New York City on July 24, 1803, Davis received an informal education, studying drawing at the American Academy of the Fine Arts, the New-York Drawing Association, and the antique casts at the National Academy of Design. He apprent...