Artwork

Saco, Looking Northwest

Saco, Looking Northwest, by Daniel Huntington, graphite, 1864
Saco, Looking Northwest, by Daniel Huntington, graphite, 1864

Saco, Looking Northwest is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Daniel Huntington. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Daniel Huntington’s drawing titled *Saco, Looking Northwest* was executed around 1864. Rendered in graphite on wove paper, the work presents a landscape view oriented toward the northwest direction. The piece exemplifies Huntington’s mid‑nineteenth‑century practice of using drawing as a primary means of recording topographical scenes.

Technique & Style

The artist employed graphite to achieve a range of tonal values, allowing for subtle gradations of light and shadow across the paper’s smooth surface. The choice of wove paper, with its uniform texture, supports fine line work and contributes to the drawing’s crisp, detailed appearance, characteristic of Huntington’s precise, observational approach.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1864, the drawing originates from a period when Huntington was actively documenting American landscapes. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been catalogued within collections of nineteenth‑century American drawings, reflecting its relevance to studies of regional topography and the artist’s oeuvre.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Daniel Huntington

Artist

Daniel Huntington

Daniel Huntington (October 4, 1816 – April 19, 1906) was an American artist who belonged to the art movement known as the Hudson River School and later became a prominent portrait painter.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.