Canadarago Lake near Richfield Springs, New York
Artist
George H. McCord
(American, 1848 - 1909)
Datec. 1875
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsOverall: 23 1/2 x 43in. (59.7 x 109.2cm)
ClassificationsPAINTINGS
Credit LineProctor Collection
Terms
Object numberPC. 73
Description On View
Not on viewCollections
CopyrightNo known copyright restrictions.
Label TextAccording to research undertaken on this picture by Eileen L. Fay, the Museum's 2007 summer intern, the road in the foreground of this painting was known in the 19th century as East Lake Road. Today it is designated County Rt. 6. The view is from the south looking northwest. The island in the middle distance is De-O-Won-Go Island. The island's name derives from an Oneida Indian word that signifies "place of hearing." Before much of Canadarago Lake's shoreline was cleared, an echo could be heard from this island.
The subject of McCord's painting would have had special significance for Thomas Proctor because of a hotel in nearby Richfield Springs that he owned for a number of years. There is a collection of unused Thomas Proctor family holiday greeting cards in the Museum's collection, inscribed "HOLIDAY GREETINGS / THOMAS REDFIELD PROCTOR / MARIA WATSON WILLIAMS PROCTOR" that has an engraved depiction of Thomas Proctor's study on the front. The engraving includes a depiction of what appears to be PC. 73 hanging over Thomas Proctor's mantelpiece in the study. Another view of Canadarago Lake in the Museum's collection, by George W. King (1836-1922), 65.58, appears to have been painted from approximately the same vantage point.
Paul D. Schweizer
July 2012
