The White Castles on the Upper Missouri

Artist Karl Bodmer (Swiss, 1809 - 1893)

Dateca. 1839

MediumEngraving on paper

DimensionsUnframed: 17 1/4 x 23 3/4 inches (43.82 x 60.33 cm)
Framed: 23 1/4 x 27 3/8 x 1 1/8 inches (59.06 x 69.53 x 2.86 cm)

Credit LineGift of Roger E. Foltz and Jo Anderson

Object number2009.72

Inscribed"Tab. 37" is printed above the top right corner of the engraving. Multiple other printed inscriptions appear below the scene. Directly below the lower left corner of the image: "Defsine [sic] d'ap, nat. par Ch Bodmer." Directly below the lower edge of the image, center: "Imp. de Bougeard." Directly below the lower right corner or the image: "Gravé par Himley." Beneath these inscriptions, the title of the engraving is written in three languages, German, English, and French (left to right): "DIE WEISSEN SCHLÖSSER. / am obern Mifsouri [sic]" "THE WHITE CASTELS [sic] / on the upper Missouri." "LES CHÂTEAUX BLANCS. / Mifsouri [sic] supéreur." Additional inscriptions appear near the lower edge of the sheet (left to right): "Coblenz, bei J. Hölscher" "London, published by Ackermann & Co. Strand." "Paris, Arthurs Bertrand. éditeur."

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DescriptionThis uncolored engraving is printed with black ink on white paper. It depicts a detailed view of a calm stretch of the Missouri River. The "white castles" of the title are the unusual rock formations silhouetted against the sky in the background. While a flock of birds soar in a cloud-filled sky just right of center, a herd of antelope swim from the far bank of the river in the middleground to the sandbars and shallower waters in the foreground. "Tab. 37" is printed above the top right corner of the engraving. Multiple other printed inscriptions appear below the scene. Directly below the lower left corner of the image: "Defsine [sic] d'ap, nat. par Ch Bodmer." Directly below the lower edge of the image, center: "Imp. de Bougeard." Directly below the lower right corner or the image: "Gravé par Himley." Beneath these inscriptions, the title of the engraving is written in three languages, German, English, and French (left to right): "DIE WEISSEN SCHLÖSSER. / am obern Mifsouri [sic]" "THE WHITE CASTELS [sic] / on the upper Missouri." "LES CHÂTEAUX BLANCS. / Mifsouri [sic] supéreur." Additional inscriptions appear near the lower edge of the sheet (left to right): "Coblenz, bei J. Hölscher" "London, published by Ackermann & Co. Strand." "Paris, Arthurs Bertrand. éditeur." Beneath the central inscription there is a blind stamp (embossing) that reads "C. Bodmer / Direct." The embossing is not very heavy. Therefore, the blind stamp is difficult to read without additional illumination.

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