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Show 83 than of nature. The natural clay and sandstone outcroppings, crowned by a layer of darker strata, looked like white fortresses with brownish roofs. Perpendicular apertures within the formations gave the appearance of a series of windows, heightening the illusion. Maximilian wrote in his journal that these natural formations, when viewed from a distance "so resembled buildings...that we were deceived by them until we were assured of our error. We agreed...to give these original works of nature the name of The White Castles.1 "4 As the expedition came closer to the outcroppings, the illusion vanished, but the fascination continued. The sight of these geological formations struck a powerful imaginative chord in both men. For the next two days Bodmer sketched and painted the "castles," as the expedition continued up the river until finally the formations were no longer visible. Maximilian noted in his journal that "from Mr. Bodmer's sketches one will easily see that from a distance a great resemblance (to architecture) exists."^ The Search for Synethesis: The Real and the Ideal The Watercolor of the White Castles It is useful to examine why this natural sandstone formation had such a powerful effect on Bodmer and Maximilian. Why were both men so open to the illusion? The painting Bodmer produced of this natural phenomenon provides some clues. Bodmer's watercolor, The White Castles on the Missouri, contains all the descriptive information necessary to document the geological formation and |