Daniel Huntington, American, 1816–1906 - Mt. Chocorua from Chocorua House - September 22, 1879 - T-Shirt

A quiet graphite study of Mount Chocorua, the pyramidal New Hampshire peak seen from the grounds of Chocorua House, dated September 22, 1879.

Visual Elements & Composition

The drawing is built from pencil grey on a warm parchment ground, which makes up most of the sheet. A single pyramidal peak rises above a ridge of rocky slopes, with distant hills receding behind it. Below, sparse trees stand in the valley, so the eye moves from the sharp summit down to the open land. The handwritten inscription in the corner, reading "Sept 25 79" and "from her window," gives the sketch the feel of a dated note made on the spot.

Meaning & Symbolism

Daniel Huntington, best known for his portraits and historical compositions, turned to landscape in works like this one. In the 1870s, views of the White Mountains drew travellers to New Hampshire as a summer destination, and peaks such as Chocorua stood for the sublime and for a rustic retreat set against wild country. The plein air approach records a particular vantage point and a particular afternoon, presenting the mountain as a familiar, lasting part of the American landscape.

Wearing the Vista

Printed across the chest, the sketch reads at close range the way it was drawn: a small, personal view held in the hand and studied up close. The pale parchment tone and fine graphite lines carry onto the shirt, so the mountain sits where the wearer can see its outline and the dated inscription as they move through the day.