Verbrugge, Louis

A fine group of sketchbooks documenting a six-month trip to the New World in 1876.



4 sketchbooks, 2 of them oblong small 4to (5  5/8  x 9 in.; 143 x 228 mm), the other 2 oblong 4to (9  1/2  x 11  1/2  in.; 241 x 293 mm).  Approximately 185 sheets filled with watercolor, ink and pencil drawings, including some tipped-in, many captioned in French.  Original cloth covers, artist's decorative monogram in ink on cover on one small sketchbook; condition varies, some wear, spine of one large sketchbook renewed.  Half morocco gilt clamshell case.

A closely observed—and often humorous—record of a six-month whirlwind tour of North and South America by a French traveller and talented amateur (?) artist, Louis Verbrugge.  In a relatively brief trip, the intrepid and curious traveller visited and sketched Montreal and Quebec, New York City, Staten Island, the Hudson River Valley, Saratoga, Niagara Falls and Philadelphia.  He ventured west to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, Chicago, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Salt Lake City; and south to New Orleans, Havana, Vera Cruz and Buenos Aires.

Verbrugge was fortunate enough to be in Philadelphia for the Fourth of July celebrations of America's centennial year and recorded the vast parade.  He travelled from the East Coast to Chicago in a Pullman car, which he sketched in some detail.  He observed American Indians, settlers travelling west, blacks in both the US and Cuba, and Latin American laborers. 

While many of the drawings are straightforward and informative, others are satirical.  The concierge at the St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans is depicted as a fierce mastiff in a suit and tie.  Train passengers in Colorado are shown jumping into their clothes when the conductor announces a stop for breakfast at the approaching station.  Most amusing of all for the French visitor were the Mormons of Utah.  In addition to a sketch of the Tabernacle and other sights of Salt Lake City, Verbrugge is clearly intrigued by the polygamy of the sect.  He captions a drawing of a very elaborate, very wide bed filled with one bearded man and a number of women "Le lit de Brigham Young."  A drawing of three young women stripped down to their undergarmets is called "Le rêve d'un Mormon pauvre."

A very fine collection of vivid and often lighthearted images of the New World, recorded in the U. S. Centennial year.