Artwork

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia, by Lefevre James Cranstone, watercolor, 1860
The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia, by Lefevre James Cranstone, watercolor, 1860

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist Lefevre James Cranstone. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.
1989.257
Credit line
Maria DeWitt Jesup Fund, l989

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a view of the Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia, featuring a boat and a tree.

The painting depicts a view of the Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia, featuring a boat and a tree. It is a watercolor and gouache work from 1859 by Lefevre James Cranstone, classified as a landscape and held in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition measures 30.3 cm in height and 45.6 cm in width. The work is part of the museum’s collection of American paintings from the 19th century.

Technique & Style

Created in 1859, this landscape work utilizes watercolor and gouache applied to off-white wove paper. The composition depicts a river scene featuring boats and trees, characteristic of the artist's approach to the genre. The sheet measures 30.3 cm in height and 45.6 cm in width.

History & Provenance

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia was created in 1859 by Lefevre James Cranstone, executed in watercolor and gouache on off-white wove paper.

The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing. Its inventory designation within the museum's records is 1989.257, indicating that it entered the institution's holdings in 1989. No information on an earlier ownership chain, commission, or intermediate provenance is documented in the available sources.

The watercolor The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia by Lefevre James Cranstone is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, created in 1859, is classified within the museum's The American Wing. It bears the accession number 1989.257. The painting depicts a landscape featuring boats and trees.

Context

The 1859 watercolor and gouache on off‑white wove paper portrays the Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia, and is categorized as a landscape within The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its dimensions measure 30.3 cm by 45.6 cm, reflecting the scale typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century American topographical works. As a landscape by Lefevre James Cranstone, the piece exemplifies the period’s interest in river scenery while maintaining a precise, observational approach distinct from the more romanticized Hudson River School.

Its inclusion in a major American art collection underscores its relevance to the development of American landscape painting as a distinct genre.

Overview

Lefevre James Cranstone, an English artist known for his watercolor landscapes, created The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia in 1860. This work, executed with watercolor and gouache on off-white wove paper, captures a serene view of the American waterway. It exemplifies the artist's approach to depicting natural scenes observed during his travels.

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia
The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia, Lefevre James Cranstone

Artist & collection

Portrait of Lefevre James Cranstone

Artist

Lefevre James Cranstone

Lefevre James Cranstone (6 March 1822 – 22 June 1893) was an English artist known for his watercolor genre-style landscapes and oil paintings.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia?

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia was painted by Lefevre James Cranstone in 1859–60.

Where can I see The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia?

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia?

The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia is associated with American Folk Art.