Landing of Cadillac
Watercolor depicting landing of Cadillac at Detroit. Artist's initials and "1904" in lower left hand corner. English translation of accompanying French text: "Cadillac was one of them. He leaves his village, like a captive bird breaking out of its cage and veers towards the horizon. He flees as from a prison from this St. Nicholas with its peaceful grace, its peaceful charm calls and tires him. He flees it as if from a prison. Heredia painted us at the bridge of Caraville sailing toward a new land and observing at night the rising of other stars. Under the trade winds singing in the sails and pushing them toward their destiny. Imagining that they have a capricious guide. For the instrument of God does not see who is guiding him. And does not feel the hand of the master. On the light vessel slicing through the Atlantic, Cadillac went off toward virgin America to plant there a human seed. Sailor, soldier, pioneer, explorer, what does it matter? Men of that age broke down every door and everywhere opened a path for themselves. Nothing frightened them, neither arrow, nor storm. Across field and wood they marched, head held high, towards the unseen tomorrow. From watercolor: 'The landing of Cadillac' [in Detroit]. In Hommage de la Societe Archeologique de Tarne et Garonne a la Ville de Detroit. Photo by Sylvester Lucas."
- Creator:
- Lucas, Sylvester
- Resource ID:
- bh009477
- Subject:
- Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730
- Detroit (Mich.)--History
- Photographers--Michigan--Detroit
- Photographic prints
- Date:
- unknown
- Format:
- 1 photographic print ; 10 x 8.25 in.
- Department:
- Burton Historical Collection
- Location:
- E&M B C1145
- Copyright:
- Physical rights are retained by DPL. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.