John R. Putnam

This exceptional late-19th-century photograph documents the legendary “Fallen Monarch” sequoia in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, captured circa 1896 by American photographer John R. Putnam. The image preserves one of the most famous natural landmarks of early Yosemite tourism—a colossal giant sequoia toppled by nature and transformed into a passageway for early visitors traveling through the grove.

The composition presents the immense uprooted trunk dominating the foreground, its exposed root mass rising like a sculptural form against a dense forest of towering sequoias. Wagon tracks visible beneath the fallen tree provide a powerful sense of scale, underscoring the enormous size of these ancient giants and the awe they inspired in 19th-century viewers. The photograph reflects the era’s fascination with monumental nature and the growing national reverence for Yosemite as a symbol of America’s natural heritage.

This work is an original black-and-white silver gelatin photograph, mounted on period cardstock. The verso bears the printed and stamped marks of Al Greene & Associates, prominent publishers of fine photographic murals and historical imagery, along with handwritten notations identifying the subject as “Fallen Monarch, Mariposa Grove, Calif.” The mount further notes the photograph was taken by Putnam, with period production and negative numbers, firmly supporting its authenticity and professional provenance.

John R. Putnam was active during a formative period when photography played a crucial role in shaping public awareness of Yosemite and the American conservation movement. Images such as this helped transform remote wilderness into nationally treasured landscapes, influencing early preservation efforts and tourism alike.

Details

Title: Fallen Monarch, Mariposa Grove

Photographer: John R. Putnam

Date: c. 1888

Medium: Silver gelatin photograph

Mount: Original period mount with Al Greene & Associates imprint

Location: Yosemite National Park, California

Condition: Very good antique condition; light age-related toning, mount wear, and corner losses consistent with period handling

Provenance: From a historic American photographic collection

A rare and evocative survival from the golden age of Western landscape photography, this photograph is a highly desirable piece for collectors of Yosemite history, giant sequoia imagery, early conservation photography, and 19th-century American landscapes. A timeless visual record of Yosemite’s legendary giants—captured at the dawn of America’s preservation era