Arrival in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland: The Cable Passed to the Paddle-box Boat of the Terrible, etc.

1866

Not on view

One of the 19th century's great technological achievements was to lay a telegraphic cable beneath the Atlantic, allowing messages to speed back and forth between North America and Europe in minutes, rather than ten or twelve days by steamer. An initially successful attempt in 1858, led by Cyrus W. Field and financed by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, failed after three weeks. Two working cables were finally laid in July and September 1866, the result of repeated efforts by the indefatigable Field, a cadre of engineers, technicians, and sailors, two groups of financial backers, and significant help from the British and United States navies. Dudley documented the process in a series of watercolors and oils, this example showing the Terrible bringing the cable to shore in Newfoundland after the Great Eastern's arrival on July 28, 1866. In 1892 Field donated art works by Dudley, commemorative medals, memorabilia, and specimens of cable to the Museum.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Arrival in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland: The Cable Passed to the Paddle-box Boat of the Terrible, etc.
Artist: Robert Charles Dudley (British, 1826–1909)
Date: 1866
Medium: Watercolor over graphite with touches of gouache (bodycolor)
Dimensions: Sheet: 10 5/8 × 15 3/8 in. (27 × 39 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Gift of Cyrus W. Field, 1892
Object Number: 92.10.79
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Robert Charles Dudley

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

The Majolica Fountain in the International Exhibition, Designed by the Late John Tomas, Executed by Minton, Hollins and Co., from "Illustrated London News"

Robert Charles Dudley

August 30, 1862

Making the Splice between the Shore End and the Ocean Cable, Robert Charles Dudley British, Oil on canvas — Making the Splice between the Shore End and the Ocean Cable
Robert Charles Dudley
ca. 1866

Grappling for the Lost Cable, Robert Charles Dudley British, Oil on canvas — Grappling for the Lost Cable
Robert Charles Dudley
ca. 1866

Homeward Bound: "The Great Eastern", Robert Charles Dudley British, Oil on canvas — Homeward Bound: "The Great Eastern"
Robert Charles Dudley
ca. 1866

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.