A Bit of Natural Park by Alexander Schilling

This is an etching by artist Alexander Schilling titled A Bit of Natural Park. It is from a large collection titled Picturesque California and the Region West of the Rocky Mountains, from Alaska to Mexico published in 1888-1890 and edited by famous naturalist John Muir. This was a coffee table book of the time and in addition to the text included over 600 etchings, photogravures, and wood engravings, 700 additional illustrations, and 120 tinted plates. The original work was sold by subscription and was distributed monthly in thirty parts. Muir wrote six of the articles. It was ultimately reduced to two volumes and was reprinted in 1976. Artists that contributed to the work included such luminaries as Thomas Moran, Mary Nimmo Moran, Frederick Remington, Thomas Hill, William Merritt Chase among many others. Alexander Schilling (1859–1937) contributed several etchings to the collection. Not much is known about him although he is described as a landscape painter and etcher. He was well-known enough in his time to have a brief obituary in the New York Times, He was living in New York City at the time of his death, and the times noted that one of his landscapes was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and that many of his dry points and etchings are held by the New York Public Library. The etching itself is in very good condition especially considering its age. It depicts a grove of gnarled trees with a creek or pond to the left. Light and shadow is expertly rendered. I've not been able to identify where Natural Park is (or was). It is a bit unusual in that it is printed in sepia on cream, but this was the case for some of the other etchings he contributed to the collection. It is signed in the plate lower right etched by Alex Schilling after photo, although it can be difficult to make out in the leaf litter. The sheet is untrimmed and is 14.75 x 10.75 inches. The plate mark is 12 x 8.25 inches. It is well struck and inked. There may be very slight toning to the image, although this could be how it was issued. Otherwise, there are no condition issues including no tears, paper loss, stains, foxing, or fading. A beautiful historic print from a landmark book about California.