Reflections on North South Lake

by Ellen Levinson

Original - Not For Sale

Price

Not Specified

Dimensions

6.500 x 4.500 inches

Title

Reflections on North South Lake

Artist

Ellen Levinson

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

This is a painting of the sunlight shimmering on North/South Lake in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
North-South Lake is an 1100 acre state campground,part of the Catskill Forest Preserve, near Palenville, N.Y. 2,250 feet above the valley floor, the escarpment on which the lakes are located provides a view of 5 states in clear weather. Called "America's First Wilderness", the North-South Lake area was the beginning of the Catskill's recreational history going back to 1753 when John Bartram ,a British naturalist , and his son journeyed to the area to collect balsam fir seedlings. Balsam fir was was sought after for its supposed medicinal properties. The seedlings that Bartram brought back to Britain failed to flourish there, however his account of his travels " A Journey to Ye Cat Skill Mountains with Billy" became popular in both Britain and the colonies.
In the early 19th century some American artists began to migrate from New York City the Hudson Valley searching for new subject matter.Their work became known as the Hudson River School.Thomas Cole was one of these famous painters, depicting the lakes in many of his paintings.
Many resorts were built in the area, including the famed Catskill Mountain House. It was built in 1823 on the "Pine Orchard" overlook made famous 70 years earlier by the Bartrams visit. Thomas Cole was a frequent visitor at the Mountain House which had become an elite attraction for politicians (and some presidents),artists,captains of industry ,writers and poets and artists.
In 1929 some of the land around the lakes was purchased by the state parks department under Article 14 of the N.Y. State Constitution - to keep them "forever free". Some of the land remained privately owned at that time. The state eventually gained control of all the land around the lakes except for that around the original Mountain House. The popularity of the area began to decline and hotels beagn to fail. Eventually after failed attempts to revitalize and relaunch the Mountain House in 1940, the state got that parcel of land as well.
The original 10 campsites in the area of North-South Lake are now 219. There is hiking along the escarpment trail,fishing,swimming and boating(non motor boats only).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North%E2%80%93South_Lake

� 2011 Ellen Lynn Levinson (Ellyn)
All images are protected by U.S. and International copyright laws.
All rights reserved by the artist Ellen Lynn Levinson (Ellyn).
Images may not be reproduced or used in any way without written permission from the artist.

Uploaded

February 8th, 2011

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