This project was to celebrate the 200th birthday of Dr. George T. Engelmann (1809-1884).  Although my name is George T. Engelmann III, the good doctor and I are not related, but no matter.  Dr. Engelmann identified the Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine, along with many other trees and plants found throughout Colorado and North America.  I felt compelled to honor his name and work. 

    Shortly after the founding of the National Academy of Sciences in 1863, Dr. Engelmann was one of fifty scientists selected by Congress to become a founding member.  He was also an active member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Dr. Engelmann was one of twelve founding members of The Academy of Science of St. Louis.  He attended a thriving medical practice with his ability to speak German, English and French.  Due to his botanical skills, knowledge and extensive professional connections,  Dr. Engelmann became the “Scientific Father” of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, providing herbariums and the scientific rigor to become the world-renowned Missouri Botanical Gardens.

    The inspiration to photograph the Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine came from Master Photographer, Hal D. Gould.  Hal was owner of The Camera Obscura Gallery in Denver, one of the oldest fine art photography galleries in the US until he closed the gallery in April 2010 at the age of 91.  His 1991 black and white portfolio, “Centuries of Exposure: The Indomitable Bristlecone Pine,” revealed the unique and individual characteristics of the oldest living beings on Earth.  My path was set.  Soon I will embark on making photographs for a second portfolio of these ancients found in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

    View the portfolio:

“Ancient Sentinels: The Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine.”

    These 10 archival silver gelatin photographs are for sale in a limited edition of 25 at a reasonable price of $1,000 each. 

    All images are 10” x 10,” hand-printed on 11” x 14” warm-tone Ilford fiber paper, matted with 4-ply museum rag with a three-page colophon and interleaves in an archival clamshell box. 

Portfolio Prices:

Portfolios #1-6: $1,000 each.

Portfolios #6-25 will be priced at a later date. 

All images are stamped and signed verso by the artist. 

Portfolios are stamped as a set.