"In the whole range of literature on the Maya, there has never appeared a more magnificent work than Catherwood's "Views of Ancient Monuments."

Catherwood's "Views" was the first significant depiction of Mayan ruins in Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula. Between 1839 and 1842, he and John Lloyd Stephens made two major expeditions to document a number of archaeological sites, including Copan, Palenque, Uxmal, Labna, Kabah, Sayil, Chichen Itza, and Tulum. While Stephens lively account, "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan," remains a classic of travel writing, it is Catherwood's illustrations, remarkable for their accuracy (some have been instrumental in the reconstruction of buildings that had subsequently fallen), and striking in their sense of mystery and beauty that have captured the imagination of generations. The awe and excitement of his journey with Stephens is palpable in each illustration, where the visual impact transcends the documentary purpose, becoming a unique blend of science and art; both a valuable historical document and an enduring evocation of early exploration and discovery only possible in the period before photo documentation became common place.