Artwork
Trenton Falls, New York
Trenton Falls, New York is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Robert Jones. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Robert Jones's Trenton Falls, New York (1836) is a mixed-media landscape on light tan wove paper, combining watercolor, gouache, graphite, and sgraffito. The piece captures a dramatic natural scene.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a towering waterfall cascading between dark cliffs, with slender trees adhering to the rocky terrain and a minuscule figure at the base, emphasizing the monumental scale of the falls.
Technique & Style
Jones employed sgraffito by scraping wet paint to reveal white paper, simulating the foam of the waterfall. This approach contrasts with the prevalent smooth renderings of waterfalls by his contemporaries, instead opting for a textured, realistic portrayal.
History & Provenance
Created in 1836, the work's provenance is tied to The American Wing collection. Specific details about its creation context or ownership history before its acquisition are not provided.
Context
Trenton Falls, New York reflects the early 19th-century American interest in capturing the country's natural wonders. Jones's use of sgraffito to depict the dynamic movement of water was innovative for its time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Jones painted quiet scenes of everyday places in the early 1900s. In Conway Market you’ll see a row of shops with warm afternoon light on brick and stone. His Trenton Falls, New York feels cool and crisp, using…
