Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
"Ocean View Ranch", the Residence of Jacob Downing of San Gregorio, 1878 |
Object Name |
Lithograph |
Description |
"Ocean View Ranch", the Residence of Jacob Downing of San Gregorio, 1878. Moore & DePue lithograph by Grafton Tyler Brown hand-colored by Herbert Dengler of Portola Valley. Hand-painted framed lithograph depicting two images: an overview and front view of "Ocean View Ranch," the residence of Jacob Downing of San Gregorio. Top image is a landscape of a ranch divided into sections that include multiple red barns, small white buildings and fields, all divided by fences. In front left are hay hales and a farmer on a four-horse-drawn wagon carrying hay. The right side has a large hill with horses and cows. Behind the property are hills leading to a large body of water with a sailboat and steamboat on it. The lower image depicts a larger view of the white house with a fenced-in yard and an orchard and gardens within the fence. A dirt road follows the front and side of the house, upon which a two-horse-drawn wagon carries two figures. A dog is on the ground near the horses. There is a small white building behind the house within the yard. Behind the property are green hills and a fenced-in field to the right. Printed on white paper, mounted under glass into a gold wooden frame with an off-white mat with a red and blue edge. |
Date |
1878 |
Creator |
Brown, Grafton Tyler |
Role |
Artist |
Creator |
G.T. Brown & CO. LITH., S.F. |
Role |
Lithographer |
Creator |
Moore & DePue |
Role |
Publisher |
Catalog Number |
1987.040.009 |
Dimensions |
H-17.25 W-17.125 D-0.75 inches |
Dimension Details |
Overall. |
Collection |
Three-Dimensional Collection |
Inscription Text |
"'Ocean View Ranch' Property & Residence of Jacob Downing, San Gregorio, San Mateo Co.Cal. / Moore & DePue,Pub.S.F. LITH.G.T.BROWN & CO.S.F. / Front View of Residence of Jacob Downing, San Gregorio, San Mateo Co.Cal." (beneath image) |
Notes |
Grafton Tyler Brown (February 22, 1841 – March 2, 1918) was an American painter, lithographer and cartographer. Brown was the first African-American artist to create works depicting the Pacific Northwest and California. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafton_Tyler_Brown 1/5/2022] Herb Dengler was born and raised in Palo Alto, where he attended Palo Alto schools, and graduated from Stanford with a degree in zoology… Mr. Dengler became the spirit of Jasper Ridge. With his encyclopedic knowledge of every rock and tree and insect, and his unfailing enthusiasm, he was a key player in establishing the 1,200-acre Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, which he continued visiting almost until his death last week. [Portola Valley artist and naturalist Herb Dengler dies By Marion Softky. Wednesday, September 25, 2002. https://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/2002/2002_09_25.dengler.html 1/5/2022] Moore & DePue. In 1878, publishers Elliott S. Moore and James De Pue saw opportunity in San Mateo County... Brown divided production of sixty-four views with Britton & Rey, and the larger firm produced... twenty-two views along the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way, including fourteen in the county seat. While Britton & Rey canvassed the more prestigious areas, Brown sketched forty-one farms, residences, and businesses. Of fourteen views that filled two pages, Brown did eleven. Each lithographer used distinctive corner ornaments. Furthermore, Britton & Rey did the county map, while Brown provided the illustrated title page as his forty-second view. Brown's views illustrate his more sophisticated sense of contour and color of mountains, as well as the interplay of sky, cloud, and shadow, while Britton & Rey emphasized foreground people, horses, and houses and their shadows. Brown's shading of hills and clouds adds more depth than is normally found in scenes where the artist's view was expected only to inventory the property of the paying customer. After seven months of production, Moore and DePue praised the "skill and artistic finish" of the plates included in their Illustrated History of San Mateo County, and through the Redwood City newspaper on November 30, 1878, declared that "we are now delivering [them] to our subscribers." For those with second thoughts, the publishers offered, "a limited number can be purchased of our delivering agents while on their route. Price ten dollars." Today, this county history is in great demand. - Robert J. Chander, San Francisco Lithographer: African American Artist Grafton Tyler Brown (2014), pages 146-148. [https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/69670/california-san-mateo-county-moore-de-pues-illustrated-brown-co-depue-moore 1/5/2022] |
Search Terms |
"Ocean View Ranch" Downing, Jacob San Gregorio Lithographs Barns Sailing Water Horses Hills Farming |
Subjects |
Ranch Houses Barns Fences Hay Lithographs Lithography Hills Horses Cows Orchards Dogs Sailboats Steamboats Water |
People |
Downing, Jacob |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Robert & Joan Desky |