"Canal Boats," Drawing for the Magic Lantern Slide Series "Transportation," 1881-1920

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Artifact Overview

Joseph Boggs Beale created artwork that was reproduced to make magic lantern slides. His works include some of the most artistic slide illustrations made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beale was also prolific, producing more than 2,000 images used in over 250 different lantern slide sets. This drawing, from a history of transportation set, depicts a trip on a canal boat.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Drawing (Visual work)

Date Made

1881-1920

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

37.27.4

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Tempera

Technique

Grisaille

Color

Gray (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 14.25 in
Width: 14.25 in

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Related Content

  • The Susquehanna River and Canal near Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, 1885-1901
    Set

    America's Canal Era

    • 34 Artifacts
    In the early 19th century, Americans looked to canals for transportation. Artificial waterways carried people and goods over long distances with minimal power, extending water-borne commerce from seaports to inland communities. But canals were expensive to build and maintain, and floods, droughts and freezing weather interfered with operations. Railroads offered a better alternative and brought an end to America's canal era.