WHEN THE GRIZZLY RULED

Darley, Felix Octavius Carr (1822–1888), Artist Holl, Francis (1845–1888), Engraver

Native Californians Lassoing a California Grizzly [Hand-Colored Steel Engraving] [Picturesque America] [California Frontier]

New York: D. Appleton & Co, 1873.

AN UNFORGETTABLE VISION OF CALIFORNIA BEFORE THE MODERN AGE
A dramatic nineteenth-century hand-colored steel engraving depicting three mounted Native Californian horsemen confronting a charging California grizzly bear. One rider casts a lariat while two companions, rifles in hand, close the distance, capturing a moment of extraordinary tension that became one of the most memorable frontier images published in Picturesque America.

Drawn by celebrated American illustrator Felix O. C. Darley and masterfully engraved by Francis Holl, the print combines documentary interest with romantic storytelling. Rich hand coloring heightens the action while preserving the remarkable line work characteristic of fine steel engraving.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Original hand-colored steel engraving Professionally matted; the print has not been examined outside the mat, and the method of original issue cannot be confirmed. Published in Picturesque America; or, The Land We Live In., edited by William Cullen Bryant. Visible image measures approximately 8⅜ × 5⅞ inches (15 × 21.4 cm). Sheet measures approximately 9¼ × 12½ inches (23.5 × 31.8 cm). Professionally matted to approximately 15¾ × 13 inches using a double mat with gilt rule, ready for framing or display. Engraved from the original drawing by Felix O. C. Darley. Published by D. Appleton & Company, New York.

CONDITION: Fine. The engraving presents beautifully with exceptionally fresh hand coloring and strong plate impression. The paper displays only light, even age toning consistent with its age. No tears, repairs, foxing, or other condition issues are evident within the visible image. The print has not been examined outside its archival mat, which remains clean and suitable for display.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE – Romanticizing the American Frontier
Published during the great age of illustrated American travel books, this engraving reflects how nineteenth-century audiences imagined the landscapes, wildlife, and Indigenous peoples of the Far West. Rather than functioning as a purely documentary image, it presents California as a place of danger, adventure, and heroic encounters with nature, reinforcing the romantic vision that characterized much of the nation's illustrated publishing following the Civil War.

ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC WESTERN PLATES IN PICTURESQUE AMERICA
Picturesque America became one of the most influential illustrated works of its era, introducing readers to the nation's scenery, cities, and frontier through the work of America's leading artists and engravers. Darley's dynamic compositions helped shape popular perceptions of the American West for generations, while Francis Holl's finely executed steel engraving preserves every detail of the original drawing with remarkable precision.

Today the print appeals to collectors of California history, Western Americana, Native American imagery, sporting art, nineteenth-century illustration, and the golden age of American book engraving.

SUBJECTS: California Grizzly; Native Californians; Bear Hunting; Felix O. C. Darley; Francis Holl; Picturesque America; William Cullen Bryant; Hand-Colored Steel Engravings; Western Americana; Frontier Art, Americana; Western Art; California History; Sporting Art; Nineteenth-Century Illustration; Prints.

REFERENCES: Library of Congress: 93506233; Bancroft Library: 1963.002:1435.

Item #22154

Price: $85.00