Albany-Schoharie Stage Coach

Date1855

Artist Ferdinand Stucken (?-1878)

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 24 1/8 x 30 1/8in. (61.3 x 76.5cm)
Framed: 29 1/4 x 35 1/4in. (74.3 x 89.5cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1958.101.8

DescriptionYellow stage coach drawn by a team of white horses and a team of bay horses entering at great speed from right side of canvas along dirt road which runs parallel to picture frame. Coach is full of people, women's white bonnets are visible, and one man rides on top with driver who leans forward cracking whip, bearded man sits beside him. Dust from road boils up around wheels and horses' feet. A large tree with a white sign tacked onto it is behind coach. Horses are passing in front of a red barn/shed, and to left of barn is white house, two stories tall with green shutters and a white picket fence in front of it. A man in a brown coat and a grey top hat stands at openning in fence and a brown and white dog strolls beside him. Bluish mountains are visible in the background. The shutters are closed on the three windows of the second storey of the house, and the door is to the left of the two windows on the first floor. It has side lights and an overlight (over the door).Label TextThis painting probably was commissioned by Orson Root, owner of the Albany-Schoharie Stage Coach Line, said to be the person pictured at far left in the open gateway. The house is believed to have been the one he occupied, and it is plausible that the artist depicted Root as the owner often appeared--overseeing the departure of his coach.

According to a notice in the SCHOHARIE PATRIOT on September 13, 1849, the stage left Albany at 8:00 A.M. every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and Schoharie at the same time every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The twenty-six mile, one-way trip required one change of the four-horse team at James Keenholtz's inn in Knowersville. Invoices for 1855 show that one-way trips cost $1.25 for for a hat box, and $.75 for a barrel of tobacco.

Inscription(s)"F. Stucken" is painted at lower right on the front of the canvas. "ALBANY-SCHOHARIE" is lettered along the top of the side of the coach. "O. ROOT" is lettered on the coach doorway, and "MAIN STREET" is lettered on the small sign on the tree behind the coach.ProvenanceJ. Stuart Halladay and Herrell George Thomas, Sheffield, Mass. Halladay died in 1951, leaving his interest in their jointly-owned collection to his partner, Thomas. Thomas died in 1957, leaving his estate to his sister, Mrs. Albert N. Petterson, who was AARFAC's vendor.