Shoshone Falls, Snake River, Idaho, looking through the timber, and showing the main fall, and upper or "Lace Falls", No. 49 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
<p>In 1871 Timothy O’Sullivan, who had gained acclaim photographing the Civil War, was recruited by George M. Wheeler of the U.S. War Department to join a government survey of lands west of the 100th meridian. Working alongside scientists and cartographers, O’Sullivan produced large-format prints for study and official use, as well as stereographic cards for a general audience. Stereographs were made by taking two photographs of the same scene with lenses about two and a half inches apart to match the distance between human eyes. Viewed through a stereoscope, the two images combine to give the illusion of deep space. Hugh Edwards acquired several O’Sullivan works, including the complete two-volume Wheeler survey and boxed stereo set from which this image comes, as well as the photographs he made for <em>Gardner’s Photographic Sketch Book of the War</em>, published by Alexander Gardner.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1874
- Medium
- Albumen print, stereo
- Dimensions
- Each image: 9.2 × 7.5 cm (3 5/8 × 3 in.); Card: 10 × 17.7 cm (3 15/16 × 7 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Timothy O'Sullivan
Artist
Printmaking
Timothy O'Sullivan was an American photographer who documented the American West and geological surveys during the 1870s, producing some of the earliest large-format landscape photographs of the region. Working with wet collodion on glass plates, he captured vast canyon formations, mining operations, and indigenous settlements with a formal, architectural precision that transformed landscape photography into a scientific instrument. His work appeared in official U.S. Geological Surveys and established photography as essential to westward exploration and territorial mapping.
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More by Timothy O'Sullivan
Ute Braves, of the Kah-poh-teh band, Northern New Mexico, in "full dress", No. 40 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
1874 · Albumen print, stereo
Jicarilla Apache Brave and Squaw, lately wedded. Abiquiu Agency, New Mexico
1874 · Albumen print, stereo
One of the group of Pagosa Hot Springs, showing incrustation on the surface. Much prized by the Indians and miners on account of supposed healing qualities. Principal mineral element, Sulphate of Soda, No. 38 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
1874 · Albumen print, stereo
Cañon, Valley of the Conejos River, looking south from vicinity of "Lost Lakes", No. 36 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
1874 · Albumen print, stereo
Alpine Lake, in the Cerro Blanco Mountains, Colorado. One of a group of ten lakes at the main head of Ute Creek. 11.000 feet above sea-level. Cerro Blanco Peak rises 14.269 feet abov the sea, lying to the westward, No. 45 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
1874 · Albumen print, stereo
Shee-zah-nan-tan, Jicarilla Apache Brave in characteristic Costume, Northern New Mexico, No. 42 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
1874 · Albumen print, stereo
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Artist
- Timothy O'Sullivan
- Year
- 1874
- Medium
- Albumen print, stereo
- Dimensions
- Each image: 9.2 × 7.5 cm (3 5/8 × 3 in.); Card: 10 × 17.7 cm (3 15/16 × 7 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1874-120350
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified