Characteristic ruin, of the Pueblo San Juan, New Mexico, on the north bank of the San Juan River, about 15 miles west of the mouth of Cañon Largo. The present race of Indians know nothing of when or by whom these buildings were constructed. The ruin is about 350 feet square, and built of natural stone, joined together by a mud cement, No. 43 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"

Q: Is "Characteristic ruin, of the Pueblo San Juan, New Mexico, on the north bank of the San Juan River, about 15 miles west of the mouth of Cañon Largo. The present race of Indians know nothing of when or by whom these buildings were constructed. The ruin is about 350 feet square, and built of natural stone, joined together by a mud cement, No. 43 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"" in the public domain?

Yes, Characteristic ruin, of the Pueblo San Juan, New Mexico, on the north bank of the San Juan River, about 15 miles west of the mouth of Cañon Largo. The present race of Indians know nothing of when or by whom these buildings were constructed. The ruin is about 350 feet square, and built of natural stone, joined together by a mud cement, No. 43 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian" is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Timothy O'Sullivan

1874

Characteristic ruin, of the Pueblo San Juan, New Mexico, on the north bank of the San Juan River, about 15 miles west of the mouth of Cañon Largo. The present race of Indians know nothing of when or by whom these buildings were constructed. The ruin is about 350 feet square, and built of natural stone, joined together by a mud cement, No. 43 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian" by Timothy O'Sullivan

Medium

Albumen print, stereo

Dimensions

Each image: 9.3 × 7.4 cm (3 11/16 × 2 15/16 in.); Card: 9.9 × 17.8 cm (3 15/16 × 7 1/16 in.)

Classification

stereograph (albumen)

Department

Photography and Media

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

210763

Art Historical Context

Captured in 1874 by pioneering photographer Timothy O'Sullivan,Characteristic Ruin, of the Pueblo San Juan, Mexico* (No. 43 from the series "Geographical Explorations Surveys West of the th Meridian") offers a haunting glimpse into the ancient past of the American Southwest. O'Sullivan, renowned for his stark documentary style during the Civil War and government expeditions, documented this massive Pueblo ruin—about 350 feet square—on the north bank of the Juan River, roughly 15 miles west ofñon Largo's mouth. Commissioned as part of Lt. George Wheeler's surveys west of the 100th meridian, the...

About the Artist

Timothy O'Sullivan · 1840–1882

Timothy H. O'Sullivan (c. 1840–1882) emerged as one of America's pioneering photographers during a transformative era. His early life remains sparsely documented, with records suggesting he was born either in New York City or Ireland before immigrating young, possibly growing up on Staten Island. As a teenager, he apprenticed under Mathew Brady at his Fulton Street gallery in New York, mastering w...

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