Archival prints of “A View From Barclay Heights” by artist Charles Townsend, who painted in the Saugerties area in the mid-19th century, are available for purchase with proceeds to benefit the Esopus Creek Conservancy and their continued efforts to rid the waters of the Esopus Bend of invasive water chestnut plants and opening up a channel to the cove.
The print depicts a bucolic view of the Esopus Bend, including the area that encompasses the Saugerties Village Beach and the Esopus Bend Preserve today. The original painting, done in the Hudson River School style, emphasizes the majesty of the mountains and the surrounding landscape. The Saugerties Historical Society has two sketches of the setting in the painting done by Townsend dated 1851.
In the original oil painting, which hangs in the lobby of Saugerties Village Hall, one can see an island that no longer exists, an early bridge and a scattering of homes leading down to the water. It is fascinating to see the changes that have occurred in both the contours of the creek and the development of the village of Saugerties over 160 years.
The archival prints are available in limited quantities at the English Garden Custom Framing shop at 135 Partition St. and may be ordered from PC Smith & Son Hardware at 227 Main St. or from the Esopus Creek Conservancy at www.esopuscreekconservancy.org where an order form may be printed and mailed with payment to Esopus Creek Conservancy, Inc., Box 589, Saugerties.
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