View of Ephrata
Item
Title
View of Ephrata
Creator
Thaddeus M. Fowler
American, 1843–1922
Published by T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer
American, 1843–1922
Published by T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer
Date
1887
Materials
Color lithograph
Measurements
28 x 37-11/16 in. (71.1 x 95.6 cm)
Description
To anyone interested in bird's-eye views of Pennsylvania towns during the late nineteenth century, the name of Thaddeus Fowler appears on a seemingly endless number of panoramic images. He was the most prolific of all the view makers, drawing and publishing well over 400 during his career. He was particularly attracted to Pennsylvania, producing as many as 240 lithographs of cities and towns throughout the state, mostly in association with Myerstown publisher James B. Moyer.
In the early years of lithographed city views, all color was added by hand after the print was pulled, either by the artist who drew the original image, or, more times than not, by a team of artists working for the publisher. In the second half of the nineteenth century, publishers found it more expedient, and cost effective, to add color through the lithographic process itself. The simplest way to was to wash broad areas of the original black and white drawing by using additional stones for each color. In this view of Ephrata, Fowler and Moyer enlivened the composition by adding a grayish green tone with a second stone. As was usually the case, the lithographer here took great pains to ensure a third color by leaving sections of the white paper untouched by the second stone, in the area of the puffy clouds along the horizon, for example, and in the faces of many of the buildings.
In the early years of lithographed city views, all color was added by hand after the print was pulled, either by the artist who drew the original image, or, more times than not, by a team of artists working for the publisher. In the second half of the nineteenth century, publishers found it more expedient, and cost effective, to add color through the lithographic process itself. The simplest way to was to wash broad areas of the original black and white drawing by using additional stones for each color. In this view of Ephrata, Fowler and Moyer enlivened the composition by adding a grayish green tone with a second stone. As was usually the case, the lithographer here took great pains to ensure a third color by leaving sections of the white paper untouched by the second stone, in the area of the puffy clouds along the horizon, for example, and in the faces of many of the buildings.
Source
Palmer Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University, partial gift and purchase from John C. O’Connor and Ralph M. Yeager.
Identifier
86.441
Rights
This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses are not permitted.