Artwork
View of the Spot Where General Ross Fell, Near Baltimore
View of the Spot Where General Ross Fell, Near Baltimore is a watercolor print by the Romanticist artist John Hill. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
View of the Spot Where General Ross Fell, Near Baltimore is an 1820 etching and aquatint print with watercolor additions by John Hill, currently in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene, wooded landscape near Baltimore, featuring a lone rider on horseback along a dirt path lined with tall trees. Despite its tranquil appearance, the title references a site of historical significance: the location where General Ross met his demise.
Technique & Style
Hill achieved a soft, dreamy quality through a combination of etching, aquatint, and selective watercolor accents. The predominantly green and brown palette, punctuated by touches of blue sky, contributes to the work's contemplative atmosphere.
Context
Created in 1820, this work aligns with the Romantic movement, which emphasized emotional depth, natural beauty, and often, the sublime or historically poignant. The piece's focus on a specific, though serene, site of military loss reflects this aesthetic and thematic orientation.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1820 by John Hill, the print is now part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., though specific details of its provenance prior to acquisition are not provided here.
Artist & collection
Cattle Resting in a Grove with a Man Seated beside a Brook
Landscape with Shepherds
Trees by a River
Spirit Creek; Near Augusta, Georgia
Godinton, near Ashford, Kent
Brook in the Val Mondois
Groups of Various Plants Drawn After Nature: No. 7
Chemin Creux
Le Petit Parc
Hunters Leaving a Forest
Riders by a Pond
Wooded Landscape with Figures outside a Cottage