[SEVEN DRAWINGS AND WATERCOLORS OF MEXICO AND MEXICANS, FROM THE U.S.S. CONSTITUTION SKETCHBOOKS OF U.S.N. LIEUTENANT JOHN B. DALE]

Book Description

[Mazatlán, Mexico. 1846].. Seven sketches in pencil, ink, wash, and/or watercolor, on eight sheets, as described below. Sketches 2-7 matted. In very good to fine condition, with any defects noted below. A series of attractive sketches, including two handsome watercolors, by U.S. Navy Lieutenant John B. Dale of the USS Constitution. Dale, a career naval officer, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and died on an expedition to Palestine in 1848. He was one of three artists assigned to the United States Exploring Expedition commanded by Charles Wilkes, the U.S. Navy's pioneering scientific voyage, conducted between 1838 and 1842. Many of his drawings appear in the official published account of that expedition. From 1844 to 1846, Dale served as a lieutenant on board the USS Constitution during its circumnavigation of the globe; his manuscript journal of this cruise is held in the collection of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The Constitution, known affectionately as "Old Ironsides" since the War of 1812, was commanded by Captain John "Mad Jack" Percival on its 1844-46 cruise. Its orders were to check on the safety of American merchants, look for potential future coaling stations, survey new waters, and show the flag at ports around the world. After a three-year tour of the south Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and the Pacific, the Constitution was ordered back to North America as the U.S. began preparing for war with Mexico in late 1845. She arrived at Mazatlán, Mexico on January 13, 1846, and remained there for three months, leaving a short time before war erupted. The present drawings and watercolors by Dale include panoramas of the Mazatlán bay and a charming figures and scenes of everyday life in the town and surrounding area. There are as follows: 1) "Mazatlan - March 1846 - Suns up." Pencil on paper, 11 x 15 3/4 inches, laid down on a second sheet. Minor chips at edges, with no significant effect to image. Very good. Sketch of Mazatlan town and bay, with several Mexican figures walking and conversing in foreground. 2) "Old saw-mill, Mazatlan." Ink on paper, 11 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches, laid down on a second sheet. Minor chips at edges, not affecting image. Very good. Sketch of trail at water's edge, with saw mill in background and figures conversing in foreground. 3) "Tortillas, and Love-Making, in Mexico." Watercolor on paper, 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches, captioned on a second slip of paper. Fine. Scene of woman rolling tortilla dough exchanging a glance with a smoking caballero beside her. 4) "Cactus tree on the Creston - Mazatlan. Apr. 1846." Watercolor on paper, 11 1/2 x 8 inches, laid down on a second sheet. Fine. View of a gentleman, holding a machete and a parasol, standing between a pair of tall cactus trees. 5) "Mexican Rancho." Ink, pencil, and wash on paper, 11 x 14 1/2 inches, laid down on a second sheet. Minor chips at edges, not affecting image. Near fine. Scene of adobe and thatched-roof homes, with a couple leaning out of a window and watching a ranchero speak with cavalry soldiers. 6) "Mexicans." Pencil on paper, two sheets approximately 4 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches each, captioned on a third slip of paper. Near fine. A pair of small sketches of Mexican peasants, one man, one woman. 7) "View of Mazatlan." Ink on paper, 2 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches, laid down on a second sheet. Ink faint and faded, else very good. Sketch of American vessel sailing in Mazatlán Bay. HOWGEGO P20.

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