View Near Fort Miller (No. 10 (later changed to No. 9) of The Hudson River Portfolio)

Art Historical Context

Step into the tranquil beauty of the Hudson River Valley with *View Near Fort Miller*, plate No. 10 (later renumbered No. 9) from *The Hudson River Portfolio* (1822). This stunning aquatint print, the first state of two as noted by Koke, captures a sweeping landscape of rivers, trees, and rolling terrain near the historic Fort Miller site. Collaboratively created by Irish-born artist William Guy Wall, who sketched the original watercolor views; English engraver John Hill, who translated them into aquatint; and publisher Henry J. Megarey, it exemplifies early American printmaking's ambition to celebrate the nation's natural wonders. The medium—a color aquatint with delicate hand-coloring—marks a technical milestone. Aquatint's etched resin process mimics watercolor's soft tones and subtle gradations, allowing vivid hues of green foliage, shimmering water, and earthy shores to come alive on the large 14 x 20-inch image. Hand-applied colors enhance its painterly quality, making these affordable prints accessible to a wide audience beyond elite collectors. Produced during a burgeoning era of American nationalism post-War of 1812, *The Hudson River Portfolio*—comprising 20 views—fueled the Hudson River School's rise, romanticizing the region's sublime landscapes. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Edward W. C. Arnold Collection, this piece invites visitors to ponder how art shaped perceptions of America's wild beauty.