October 29 Object Description and Bonus

The painting was one foot nine inches top to bottom, two feet six inches wide. Tests had it painted in the mid-17th century, during the initial colonization of Beverwyck, now Albany NY. Some art historians have theorized that the unknown artist was the son of trader, one that traveled from New Amsterdam (New York City) to the trading post of Schenectady.

The brushstrokes were crude. The figures painted in the background were rudimentary. Based on today’s artists, “Elementary School” would best describe it. It was supposedly to be a landscape, one of a valley south of Schenectady, where many Dutch trappers plied their trade, alongside the Mohicans and incursive Mohawks. What sets it apart from all others, however, was a legend.

The painter Diederik Van Rossum had accompanied his father Joost to the Western outpost of Schenectady, helping the elder Van Rossum trade goods – silver, weapons, and blankets – for furs with the native population. During the winter of 1662-63, Diederik disappeared, lost to his father for a period of three months. Joost and the others feared the younger Van Rossum was dead. However, in February, Diederik walked into the stockade, half-starving, covered in bruises and cuts. He denied being attacked by the war-like Mohawks, telling everyone that he lost his way and was wintered with friendly Mohicans. The injuries he sustained came from his travel from the village where he was to Schenectady.

Immediately, he began painting, telling those around him that he needed to do this, to show gratitude to those that saved his life. When it was finished in July 1663, no one liked it, but the family kept it all the same. It was ten years later, in August 1673, when the legend that the painting was actually a map that showed the location of some treasure. The Van Rossums denied this, but it didn’t stop people from drawing copies of it and use those copies to travel to the Schoharie Valley to look for treasure.


Bonus:
701 words!!!!!