Album of Virginia

1857-1858

Edward Beyer

Associated Names
Edward Beyer

Artist, American, born Germany, 1820 - 1865

Rau & Son

Printer, German, active mid-19th century

Wilhelm Loeillot

Printer, German, c. 1827 - 1876

This is a photograph of a book cover. The cover displays the title "ALBUM OF VIRGINIA" in gold embossing on a dark reddish-brown surface. Below the title, it reads "ILLUSTRATED BY ED. BEYER, 1858," in vertically stacked lines. At the bottom, it is marked "CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART." The cover features minimal wear with some scrapes and scuffs, with yellow-brown triangles on the right corners and a vertical yellow-brown stripe on the left edge.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    volume of forty-one color lithographs

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 45.72 × 64.14 cm (18 × 25 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.3615.1-41

Associated Artworks

See all 41 artworks
The central circular vignette is surrounded by four smaller ovals. The central image shows a figure in white drapery holding a flag, standing over another figure on the ground, with the phrase "Sic Semper Tyrannis" beneath it. The horizon line shows land with a faintly visible ship in the distance. The surrounding vignettes are connected by ornate floral designs with muted tones, each labeled with names like "Drenched Springs," "Harper's Ferry," "Mount Vernon," and "Monticello." The overall color palette consists of soft sepia tones and light greens with delicate outlines. The scenes are depicted with fine detail typical of 19th-century illustrative techniques.

Title Page

Rau & Son

1858

The image is a collection of four illustrations titled "Album of Virginia," focusing on various views of Weyer's Cave in Augusta County, Virginia, drawn by Ed. Beyer in 1856. The top-left image shows an outdoor scene with a group of people near the cave's entrance, with a small cabin surrounded by rocks and trees. The illustration to the right, labeled "Cataract," presents an interior cave view with stalactites and stalagmites. In the bottom left, the view labeled "Shell Room" features a vast cavern with illuminated formations admired by small human figures. The bottom right, titled "Cataract," showcases another interior with a high ceiling decorated with stalactites and a group of people gesturing towards the rock formations. Each scene is intricately detailed, suggesting a careful observational style that adds to the historical and visual richness of the album.

Views of Weyers Cave

Wilhelm Loeillot

1857

The image displays the interior of a large cave known as "The Tapestry Room" in Weyers Cave, Virginia. The viewpoint is from within the cave, looking deeper into its chambers. Several figures are standing on the left, while a couple are on natural steps to the right. The center showcases stalactites and stalagmites arranged around a large, flat rock formation. The scene is enclosed, with precise brushstrokes capturing textures and forms of the rocks. The color scheme is sepia and beige, creating a warm, historical atmosphere. Light areas highlight the cave, while shadows add depth.

The Drums and the Tapestry Room, Weyers Cave

Wilhelm Loeillot

1857

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

William W. Corcoran, Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1876; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Inscriptions

center inside cover on adhered label: Library / of the / Corcoran Gallery of Art / No. 176 / Presented by W. W. Corcoran Esq. / Sep. 13. 1876

Markings

gilt stamped on cover: Album of Virginia / Illustrated / by / Ed. Beyer / 1858. / Corcoran Gallery of Art

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