Cave-in, Gould & Curry Mine, Virginia City, Nevada
Artist
Timothy H. O'Sullivan
(American, born Ireland, 1840 - 1882)
Date1868
MediumAlbumen print
DimensionsImage and sheet: 7 1/16 × 7 1/2 inches (17.94 × 19.05 cm)
Mount: 18 × 24 inches (45.72 × 60.96 cm)
Mount: 18 × 24 inches (45.72 × 60.96 cm)
Credit LineGift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Object number2005.27.527
Signednone
InscribedOn image recto, lower left, in negative: "84";
On mount recto, center, in black type with pencil: "No. 84" / "U.S. ENGINEER DEPARTMENT. / GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION. / FORTIETH PARALLEL. / T. H. O'Sullivan, Photographer."
MarkingsOn mount recto, lower right, in pencil: "Virginia Mines / [illeg.]";
On mount verso, upper right, in pencil: "12";
On mount verso, center, in red and black pencil: "216 [crossed out] / 1/2".
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionImage of an opening with pieces of wood haphazardly stacked as if they have fallen; the leg of a figure is partially visible near the right edge of the opening.Exhibition HistoryTimothy H. O’Sullivan: The King Survey Photographs. The Art Institute of Chicago, October 22, 2011 - January 15, 2012, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, April 7 - September 2, 2012, Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo, UT, January 23 - May 26, 2014, no. 31.
Here, O'Sullivan depicted the aftermath of a mine cave-in, a constant safely concern. A single miner-indicated by the evidence of one leg-sits just off the frame to the right, as shattered support beams sag downward from the ceiling of the mine passage.
C. L. B., "The Pacific Coast: Virginia City and the Silver Mines," New York Times (February 11, 1868): 2.
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information,
is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete.
Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a
particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum.
If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image,
please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.
