Object ID	N0382.1955
Title	Poestenkill, N.Y.
Artist	Hidley, Joseph Henry
Object Name	Painting
Early Date	1862-05-10
Exhibit label line3	Bird's-eye views of burgeoning American cities and towns became a popular promotional tool for town development and an expression of local pride during the mid-19th century. Most were sold in lithographic form to a mass market. Hidley, a house painter, carpenter, taxidermist, and handyman, painted five views of Poestenkill during the 19 years that he lived there from 1853 to 1872. One of these views was made into a lithograph for wider sale. This particular painting is probably his earliest and shows the town from the east viewed from a natural elevation, "Snake Hill." A number of the buildings, such as the Eagle Hotel, Union Hall, and Poestenkill Union Academy, still stand today.
Description	Poestenkill, N.Y. Marks: Dated "May the 10, 1862"
Classification	Folk Art--Painting/Drawing--Scene--Landscape
Dimensions	H-19 W-31 inches
Material	Oil on wood panel
Place of Origin	Poestenkill, Rensselaer County, NY

Prior written permission is required for any reproduction, redistribution, publication, or other use of the images in any media, including but not limited to, printed or electronic media. Contact the Office of the Registrar, New York State Historical Association, PO Box 800, Cooperstown, NY 13326, (607) 547-1444, to request permission.    
Last modified on: November 04, 2005