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An East View of the Great Cataract of Niagara
An East View of the Great Cataract of Niagara

An East View of the Great Cataract of Niagara

Artist (London, England, active 1750 - 1768)
After (Shooter's Hill, London, England, 1737 - 1812)
Mediumengraving on paper
ClassificationsPrints
DimensionsPlate Size: Height: 38.5 cm, Width: 53.3 cm
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG006098
About MeThomas Davies was an army officer and like other artillery officers of his period he studied topographical drawing which was the only means at the time of making a rapid and accurate visual records of military value. Davies was sent to Canada and America and in 1759 was promoted first lieutenant and joined Amherst's expedition to Lake Champlain.

Over the next few years he was employed in surveying the St Lawrence and also the south shore of, and rivers flowing into, Lake Ontario as far as the Niagara River. A series of American waterfalls sketched in 1766, in particular those of the Genesee and of Niagara, mark the beginnings of a personal style characterized by strong compositions and glowing colours. In 1767 Davies's company again sailed for England and the following year he published six engravings, dedicated to Amherst, of his waterfalls. This is one of those prints.