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Bear Lake, LVRR
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A distinguished commercial and documentary landscape photographer in Philadelphia, William H. Rau was commissioned in the 1890s by the Lehigh Valley Railroad to execute a series of scenic views along a new line. Realizing photography's advertising potential, the railroad company employed Rau to select picturesque subjects that might be seen while traveling by rail. Contact-printed from a mammoth plate negative, the landscape's shapes, textures, and tonal ranges are richly detailed.
| Artist / Maker | William H. Rau |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1898–99 |
| Culture / Origin | America |
| Medium | albumen print from gelatin dry plate negative |
| Dimensions | Image: 43.5 x 51.9 cm (17 1/8 x 20 7/16 in.); Paper: 45.3 x 53.7 cm (17 13/16 x 21 1/8 in.); Matted: 55.9 x 66 cm (22 x 26 in.) |
| Department | Photography |
| Type | Photograph |
About the Artist
William H. Rau American, 1855-1920 William Herman Rau was a Philadelphian with close ties to that city's photographic activities. The son of photographer George Rau, William married Louise Bell, daughter of photographer William Bell. He had worked for Bell until purchasing his father-in-law's company in 1878. Louise Bell Rau later exhibited her own work in pictorialist circles. Among Rau's other associates were his brother George, with whom he opened a photographic studio in 1885, the well-known photographic publisher Edward L.… Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
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