Mills on the Black River No. 40., 1828-1829

Jacques Milbert journeyed to the United States in 1815 and returned to France in 1823. During his stay he studied and recorded information about the topography, flora & fauna and social history found in the young country. He also made a series of sketches of the areas through which he traveled which culminated in the publication "Itineraire Pittoresque du Fleuve Hudson et des parties laterales de L'Amerique du Nord...". The publisher Henry Gaugain utilized the relatively new medium of lithography to transfer Milbert's drawings into prints. Black River is located in upstate New York. It originates somewhere in the Adirondacks and empties into Lake Ontario near Watertown. (From the Old Print Shop)

About Jacques Milbert: French naturalist and artist Jacques Gerard Milbert was born in Paris, France, on November 18th, 1766. Milbert was a student of landscape painter Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes, and later Milbert taught drawing at the Ecole nationale supérieure des mines de Paris. Being a skilled draftsman and an extensive traveler, Milbert made many scientific drawings and published his images of Mauritius, the Cape Colony, and Tenerife. A member of several scientific expeditions sent out by the French government, he came to America in 1815 to make a survey of American flora and fauna. Remained in the U.S. for nine years, during which time he made his headquarters in NYC. After his return to France in 1824, he published Picturesque Views of North America (1825) and three years later ItinÈraire Pittoresque du Fleuve Hudson et des Parties Laterales (1828-29), both illustrated by him. Also appears as "Melbert."