American Revolution
1789 "View of the West Bank of the Hudson River 3 Miles Above Still Water, Upon Which The Army Under the Command of Lt. General Burgoyne Took Post on the 20th September 1777 (Showing General Frazer's Funeral)" Print
January 1, 1789-Dated Revolutionary War Period Engraving, "View of the West Bank of the Hudson's River 3 Miles above Still Water, upon which the Army under the command of Lt. General Burgoyne, took post on the 20th Sep. 1777. (Shewing General Frazer's Funeral)," Framed, Very Fine.
This 1789-Dated Engraved Print by Barlow was published on January 1, 1798 by William Lane of London -- long after Burgoyne had surrendered at Saratoga. Its impressive View shows British General Burgoyne's encampment along the Hudson River, published shortly after the end of the American Revolution. A fascinating view of Burgoyne's men encamped on one side of the Hudson, with Native Americans on the other, the day after Burgoyne and his British soldiers defeated the Americans.
This visually striking print measures 7.75" x 16" (by sight) under glass in a narrow, black-painted wooden frame to an overall size of 17.75" x 10.5". It is clean and well printed with some light vertical folds. The scene consists of hills in the background, in front of which is General Burgoyne's encampment. In the foreground are some British soldiers and a small band of Native American Indians on the bank of the flowing Hudson River. A pontoon bridge spans the river. One of the American Indians is shown smoking a Peace pipe. Ex: The Old Print Shop, New York (Original Label located on reverse of frame).
According to the title of this print, this would have been the scene from the period of Burgoyne's encampment after he had prevailed in the Battle of Freeman's Farm (the first Battle of Saratoga), and after the Battle of Bemis Heights (the second Battle of Saratoga), where General Simon Fraser was mortally wounded on October 7, 1777. His funeral was held the next day in accordance with Fraser's last wishes. Once the Revolutionary forces understood that a funeral was being held on the redoubt, the cannonade was withheld in honor of the General. This battle also marked the beginning of the end for General Burgoyne, who eventually surrendered his 6,000 man British army to the Americans on October 17th, marking an important turning point in the American Revolution.
This is a decidedly rare and visually impressive print. The print itself is in good condition, though it has four vertical folds (as on all we've seen), a small toning spot just left of upper center, and a closed edge tear at center right. A similar, uncolored example of this same engraving is located in the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut. Our current engraving has nice eye appeal and is a highly desirable Revolutionary War era print, framed and ready to hang on display.