Waugh's Original Pencil Sketches of Ohio

WAUGH, Henry W.
Original Pencil Sketches of Ohio.
Ca 1859.
19 fine pencil sketches (4 6/8 x 7 6/8 inches) each captioned in pencil in the image by the artist, tipped-in to heavier stock at an early date and captioned in ink on the mount, matted; preserved in a brown morocco backed brown cloth clamshell box. The fine and detailed images include scenic views: Near Sidney, Ohio Ohio Canal, Coshocton Near Bellfontaine. O. Cochocton. O. Near New Castle. Ohio. Near Dresden. O. Near Washington. Ohio. Tarlton. O. Somerset. O. Newark. O. N.E. corner 6th & Vine. Sts. Cin. O. 2 Near Cincinnati. O. Kalida. O. Tarlton. O. 4th Street. Cin. New Tarlton. Ohio Wapakoneta. Ohio Near Wapakoneta Ohio Mt. Vernon. Ohio Henry W. Waugh, nephew of the better known artist Samuel B. Waugh, was an itinerant artist actor who performed, painted and toured with the Spaulding and Rogers Circus between 1857-1859. He is also known to have assisted in the production of a celebrated temperance panorama undertaken by Jacob Cox. "It was known as Cox and Waugh's panorama, and it comprised fifty-four scenes. The daily local column nearly always contained an announcement of a temperance meeting or lecture. The 'Journal' of March 15, 1854, says in referring to the temperance panorama: "We calculate much on its influence for a Prohibition law"; which shows that these panoramas were taken seriously. And on May 15, 1854: "This is a great town for panoramas, not only showing them but making them. We have already sent out two or three and there are still a couple behind." "In another place (May 24, 1854), the 'Journal' says: "We were premature in our announcement of the Cox and Waugh panorama, showing the eagerness with which this panorama of temperance was awaited. "A mammoth undertaking," says the Journal, February 18, 1854. "We learn that Mr. Henry Waugh, the talented young artist, who has spent considerable time in our City, has been solicited to paint a panorama of scenes in Egypt, Palestine, Italy, Greece and other ancient regions. Arrangements were made for a friend to go abroad, and send back daguerreotypes of the interesting scenery, ruins, etc., as 'copies for Mr. Waugh's pencil.' It was estimated the work would occupy three years." "Cox and Waugh's Panorama was first presented on the evening of May 30, 1854, to an overfull house (in spite of the rain)." (This from the Louisville 'Journal', June 20, 1854.) "The success of this excellent production has been even greater than was anticipated, and anticipations were of no slight magnitude. It is home-made painting of home scenes, and is superbly executed. Its tone is subdued and its scenes are free from extravagance that make impure taste. It will bear study, and the more it is studied the more its excellence appears. The character of the spectators no less than their numbers attest the merit of the panorama and appreciation of the artists. It was afterward taken to many larger cities in the State, where it was given before interested audiences. This enormous panorama is without doubt the largest and most magnificent one we have ever witnessed, and is, we believe, destined to begin a new era in the history of panoramic exhibitions." "The New Albany, Madison, Cincinnati, and Dayton papers also spoke of the panorama in the highest terms. After being shown in Western cities for a year or more it was sold and taken to the East. "Examples of the work of young Waugh were exhibited at Jones' Music Store, and represented "some of the beautiful scenery of our own land, our cities and American forests, most artistically put up on canvas by the finished hand of this young artist." "A few days later, February 21, 1853, there was a great musical convention, at which a "prize banner" was presented to the band producing the best music. "This beautiful specimen of art" was the work of Henry W. Waugh, and was "executed on fine white satin, which is now being edged with gold lace and handsomely trimmed. The design represents Music as a female about to be crowned with laurels by two cherubs. They are embossed by clouds and fleecy vapors," with the motto, "E Ccelo Venio" (Mary Burton "Art and Artists of Indiana" pages 93-95) "Spaulding and Rogers' Floating Circus Palace", launched in Cincinnati in 1851. Dr.Gilbert R. Spaulding, a former pharmacist from Albany, New York, and English equestrian Charles J. Rogers partnered to pioneer the idea of a riverboat menagerie ... Reportedly costing $42,000 (over a million dollars today), the "Floating Palace" had 3400 seats on two decks. The 200-foot long boat was twice the size of New Orleans' St. James Theatre, the city's largest building in 1851... Besides the 42-foot circus ring area, the boat boasted (in an 1860 advertisement in "Gardner's New Orleans Directory") a museum with "100,000 curiosities of past years". Decorated with elegant mirrors, velvet appointments, thick carpeting and carved woodwork, the "Floating Palace" had 200 gas jets for lighting the ring with its impressive performing horses (as showcased in a lithograph by A. Forbriger)... The beginning of the Civil War, however, created problems for Spaulding and Rogers and other traveling troupes (most of which were from Northern States). Being stranded in a hostile South was a possibility, and that's just what happened to the "Floating Circus Palace". Marooned in New Orleans after a chain of performances, the "Palace" was confiscated by the Confederate authorities in 1862 for use as a hospital ship. Fearing spy activity, the circus troupe was commanded to depart and go back above the Mason-Dixon line... Their great escape was only one of Spaulding and Rogers' many circus accomplishments over the years: the first to introduce the calliope to a circus, the first to use knock-down seats and quarter-poles in tents, the first to move an entire circus by rail, multiple simultaneous performing acts in different rings and the first to employ Drummond lights for evening performances. Better known as limelight, this stage lighting is provided by an oxyhydrogen flame (and where we get the expression "in the limelight")" (New Orleans Nostalgia "The Floating Palace", Ned Hémard).